Removal of Patients, Violence in Practices and Violent Patient Procedure Reminder

It is vitally important that practices follow the correct procedure when handling violence in practice, especially in the correct removal of violent patients, to ensure that all who work in primary care are protected.  Please remember, violence includes behaviour that leads to any person legitimately in the practice premises to fear for their safety and includes aggressive behaviour and verbal or sexual harassment as well as physical violence.  Perceived threat is sufficient to enable a practice to take action.  It is important that practices adhere to the usual of rules of not discriminating on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.  You may find this LMC guidance a helpful reminder.  Please note the new contact details included in the guidance.

Focus on Travel Immunisations

The GPC has published this Focus on Travel Immunisations to explain which travel immunisations are available on the NHS and which can be charged for privately.  This document reflects the present situation and is intended to help practices by clarifying the existing regulations as they currently stand, as the availability of immunisations and the nature of foreign travel has made the Regulations surrounding this area difficult to interpret.  

Firearms Licensing

As a response to a number of questions we have received relating to Firearms Licensing we would like to share this interim guidance:

The BMA has agreed in principle that where an individual has been granted a firearms licence, or an existing licence has been renewed, the police will subsequently contact his or her GP to enquire whether there is any medical information that might have a bearing on the individual’s suitability to hold a firearm.  Whilst the BMA intended to ensure GPs were fully informed and suitably advised prior to them receiving requests, we understand police forces have already begun to issue letters to GPs which lack specific instructions or advice.  Where doctors wish to respond to these letters and provide relevant medical information, consent to the disclosure of that information should ordinarily be sought as the letter does not currently indicate that consent has been given.  If the patient does not consent to disclosure, this should ordinarily be respected, although the police must be informed to that effect.  If, however, the doctor believes that the patient presents an immediate risk of serious harm to themselves or others, information should be disclosed even in the face of an explicit refusal.  Doctors are under no obligation to respond to these letters, but should they decide not to, doctors should inform the police as it will otherwise be assumed that there is nothing relevant on the medical record.  Although the letter from the police states that it does not have to be retained, in the BMA’s view doctors should record the request for information in the medical record and indicate what action, if any, they have undertaken.  

HPV Vaccinations Update

The Department of Health has announced that from September 2012 Gardasil, rather than Cervarix, will be used in the HPV vaccination programme.