Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, it's more important than ever that we help support our communities and the people they serve. Safety and wellbeing continues to be a priority and this page will be updated frequently.
If you are able, it would be helpful to support the national Coronovirus priorities, with your STP and primary care leads around:
NHS staff will be able to call or text a free number manned by thousands of specially trained volunteers, to receive support and advice for the pressures they face every day during the global health emergency.
The volunteers will listen to NHS staff and give psychological support to those in need. Anyone who requires further help will be signposted to other services ranging from practical and financial assistance through to specialist bereavement and psychological support.
NHS England and Improvement - You’ll find all primary care updates are posted on this page. Select specific guidance from the general practice menu
Sign up for the primary care bulletin to receive a regular roundup guidance and login details for the weekly Thursday evening 5.00-6.00pm webinars hosted by Dr Nikki Kanani Medical Director for Primary Care and Ed Waller, Director for Primary Care Strategy and NHS Contracts at NHS England NHS Improvement.
Primary care staff can register for coaching support to process experiences, develop coping skills, deal with difficult conversations and develop strategies for self-management in difficult circumstances.
New operations model to hep pharmacy and medicine teams implement care home guidance
BMA practical guidance
Update to Physician Associate (PA) training through COVID-19
Social Prescribing Link Workers and Managers Coronavirus (Covid-19) Hub - Updated regularly with national information, guidance, resources and support
The Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have released apprenticeship guidance. Beyond these measures the usual funding guidance will apply to support apprentices who cannot currently continue in learning or who fall out of work as a result of COVID-19. Further guidance documents and FAQs which will be hosted on HASO Skills for health.
National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) run a care homes programme. Find out what help is available by contacting Vikki Beddow and Matthew Walker by email: napc@napc.co.uk
Information guidance and resources for primary care from NHS Confederation
QNI resources for community nurses and allied health professionals - Download rapid training plans for orientation and induction checklists, general practice, care home and community nursing
Public Heath England every mind matters campaign
Information and support for nurses working within general practice during covid-19 -This document has been written and compiled by Helene Irvine, Wessex LMC and Julia Taylor, Lister House Derby and is designed to support nurse colleagues in general practice during the COVID 19 period, advice may alter in different areas and therefore should only be used as a guide.
Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has created an e-learning programme in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic that is free to access without logging in for any UK health and care workforce, including those working in the NHS, the independent sector and social care. To access the programme visit: www.e-lfh.org.uk/coronavirus e-learning sessions are now available for those organisations that launch e-LfH content on their own Learning Management Systems using this link: https://portal.e-lfh.org.uk/home/aiccreport.
There is also a Foundation Fast Track e-learning programme for the next intake of foundation doctors who have been fast tracked to support the workforce in responding to the pandemic.
Total remote triage in general practice
The Supporting Student Nurses in General Practice pathway offers information, guidance and resources for student nurses in general practice
‘Support for supervisors’ pathway includes resources to help health and care supervisors give effective feedback and support to their teams during the pandemic.
Content in the COVID-19 programme includes:
• Essential Guidance from the NHS, UK Government, WHO and BMJ
• Public Health England - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Resources for Staff Working in Critical Care Setting
• Resources for Staff Working in Acute Hospital Setting
• Resources for Staff Working in Primary Care and Community Setting
• Resources for Return to Work Healthcare Staff
• Resources for Staff being Up-Skilled or Redeployed
• End of Life Care COVID-19
• Resources for Paramedics
• Resources for Pharmacy Staff
• Equipment Quick Guides
• Wellbeing for Staff
Helpforce
The National Learning Hub for Volunteering has been developed in association with Health Education England. It draws together learning resources to prepare volunteers for their roles supporting health and care services.
It also includes a variety of resources from different partners and the Open University with a link to COVID-19 information so that volunteers are aware of the specific risks during this time and to help them make an informed choice about how they offer support.
NHS mental wellbeing support package
Supporting our people -10-20 minute guides developed by experts to help you manage your own health and wellbeing whilst looking after others
North East – gail.linstead@hee.nhs.uk
North West – sonia.kitchen@hee.nhs.uk – Greater Manchester
North West – joanne.anderson@hee.nhs.uk – Cheshire & Merseyside
North West – esther.kiby@hee.nhs.uk – Lancashire & South Cumbria
Yorkshire and Humber – david.claxton@hee.nhs.uk
East of England – leila.ronald-jones@hee.nhs.uk
Midlands – amy.beeton@hee.nhs.uk
South West – martingiddy@nhs.net
Kent, Surrey & Sussex – nicholas.barry-tait@hee.nhs.uk
London – colette.roach@hee.nhs.uk and louise.saul@hee.nhs.uk
Thames Valley – rebecca.tyrrell@hee.nhs.uk
Wessex – susan.clarke17@nhs.net
Please contact training hub leads for information about local initiatives, online events or webinars
As part of our work to ensure a consistent, safe approach to the rapid deployment of student clinicians into the frontline NHS workforce, we have worked with the Faculty of Physician Associates and regional teams to prepare model role descriptors for the PA workforce. This includes:
An Assistant Practitioner (AP) role for those PAs who have completed their training exit assessments and awaiting the national licensing exam. (AfC Band 5)
A Physician Associate Student Support (PASS) role for Student PAs who have not yet undertaken final exit assessments. (AfC Band 4)
Some practices are actively recruiting PAs to help staff work remotely as 90% of this type of work can be done by a PA. There’s downloadable templates, resources and contacts on the employers section of the Faculty of Physician Associates website https://fparcp.co.uk/employers/pas-in-general-practice
For COVID- 19 updates from the Faculty of Physician Associates please take a look at their website.
Content on this page is being updated regularly – please come back to keep updated
Read more**Please note that some of the content on this page may now have been superceded. For the latest guidance visit the updated information page**.
Read MoreThis programme has been created by Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.
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