Bulletin 24.06.2014

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Bulletin 24.06.2014

Unplanned Admissions Enhanced Service
A revised version of the joint guidance on the unplanned admissions enhanced service has now been published, along with NHS England’s service specification. The guidance now makes it clear that:

  • There are now no minimum requirements in place for the content of care plans. While the guidance does provide some suggestions about what could be included in care plans and a care plan template, practices should use their clinical judgement to determine the content.
  • The deadline for setting up the bypass number for healthcare providers and same day telephone consultations for case management register patients with urgent queries is the end of July.
  • The request to provide “any information” on reasons for the use of the above telephone access as part of the reporting template does not mean that practices will be required to carry out an audit of telephone consultations or supply statistics. Practices should provide any information or learning points that they believe would be of value.

A GPC “step by step” guide, which is being updated to reflect the above changes, is intended to minimise the administrative processes involved with the enhanced service, provide practical examples about how practices can meet the requirements and provide optional templates for practices to use to minimise bureaucracy for reporting purposes.

HPV Vaccination Programme Schedule Changing from 3 to 2 doses
From September this year, the number of doses of HPV vaccine that girls aged 12 to 13 years should receive, is being reduced from three to two. The two doses should be given at least six and not more than 24 months apart, but, for planning purposes, Public Health England is recommending an interval of twelve months between doses. Local needs, however, should be taken into consideration when planning the programme, so that any girls who may have missed out on their vaccinations can be accommodated. Also girls who have received two HPV vaccine doses under the 2013/14 programme should still receive their third dose, to complete their course. For full details of the change to the programme, see this letter from Public Health England, the Department of Health and NHS England

Shingles (catch-up) Service Specification
NHS England have published the enhanced service specification for the Shingles (catch-up) vaccination programme. 

Interest on Late Payments
The GPC has sought legal advice on whether practices can charge interest on late payment from the Area Team and sue through the small claims court (assuming it has not elected to become an NHS body) for cases of non-payment. The advice confirmed that this course of action is open to practices and ‘The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998’ should apply too (as the GMS Contract does not appear to have contracted out of this). This allows for interest at the rate of 8% above base rate, plus a fixed sum and reasonable costs of recovering the debt.

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