Primary care latest updates

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) – which is a collaboration between Kettering and Northampton general hospitals – is appointing a joint Chair to support closer working between two neighbouring organisations.

John MacDonald – who is currently chair of the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) will become Chair of both UHL and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s two hospital boards on July 1. He will be stepping down from his role as Chair of NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board to take up the position of chair at Northamptonshire’s two hospitals. 

The move will build on the closer relationships being developed between the three Trusts through their shared Biomedical Research Centre. Kettering and Northampton general hospitals also formally achieved University Hospital status with the University of Leicester, and other academic partners, to become the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group on July 1, 2021.

Mr MacDonald’s leadership will help to drive further collaboration between the organisations in areas such as research, clinical development, and recruitment. This will benefit the patients of the three Trusts, their communities and NHS colleagues.

KGH Interim Chair Trevor Shipman said: “We are delighted to welcome John as Joint Chair for both Kettering and Northampton general hospital Trusts. He has a wealth of NHS experience and the additional depth that comes from working both in the private sector and internationally. He will be in a great position to support the collaborative work we are developing between our organisations and with our local partners.”

NGH Interim Chair Rachel Parker said: “John’s work as Chair and Chief Executive of a number of NHS acute hospitals and the new Integrated Care Board in Derbyshire means he is ideally placed to support greater collaboration and partnership between UHL and UHN and with our university partners.”

Mr MacDonald has been Chair of the UHL since April 2021. He was previously Chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for four years. In addition to his NHS roles he has worked with management consultants Touche Ross and has ten years’ experience of working as an economist with international aid agencies.

He said: “To take on the leadership of the Northampton and Kettering boards is a huge privilege. ‘I am very much looking forward to working with the team to strengthen clinical collaboration and reset the Group model.’

“I am grateful for the work of my predecessor, Alan Burns, who established and led the UHN group. Building on this, Northampton and Kettering will continue to work closely together, providing high quality services to the people of Northamptonshire.

“We are also keen to explore closer partnership working between Leicester, Kettering and Northampton. There are already well-established relationships to build on, and exciting opportunities to make a bigger difference for the people we serve. We are all invested in supporting our staff and making the three Trusts rewarding and enjoyable places to work.”

Mr MacDonald replaces Alan Burns who stood down as Chair of Kettering and Northampton general hospitals on March 31, 2023, after serving as Chairman of Kettering General Hospital since August 2017 and Chairman of Northampton General Hospital since December 2018.

The appointment of Mr MacDonald will not change the Trust Board arrangements at either UHL or UHN which will continue as they are.

Read New chair announced for Kettering and Northampton general hospitals…

Many of you will already be aware of the changes to the special rules for end of life that have been implemented from 3^rd April, but please see below for a release from the DWP regarding the final stage of extending the eligibility criteria for PIP, DLA and AA:
 

• The Special Rules provide people nearing the end of life with faster and easier access to some benefits 
   
• On 3rd April 2023, improvements to the Special Rules criteria have brought Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) in line with previous changes made to Universal Credit (UC) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in April 2022
   
• Therefore, individuals who are likely to have less than 12 months to live can now claim PIP, DLA, AA, UC and ESA via the Special Rules
   
• Clinicians, such as a GP, consultant, hospice doctor or senior specialist nurse, can be asked to provide medical evidence on an SR1 form to support benefit claims made via the Special Rules process (the SR1 form has replaced the DS1500, please destroy all copies of the DS1500) 
   

For more information about the Special Rules, obtaining an SR1 form and for guidance about providing medical evidence, please go to www.gov.uk/dwp/special-rules. 

Read Changes to Special Rules for End of Life…

This is an invitation to all primary care colleagues to take part in the new learning programme, Creating Community Conversations. The programme is open to anyone working in primary care and the limited spaces are fully funded by NHS England. Therefore, there are no costs for primary care colleagues to participate and you can choose how much of the programme you get involved in.

What is the programme?

‘Creating Community Conversations’ is an online learning programme that gives primary care colleagues the knowledge and practical resources to connect with and work alongside local people and communities. Registration is open to anybody working in any role in primary care who wants to help local people have their say in how services are designed and delivered. The modules, outlined below, follow a logical progression and can also stand-alone, meaning you can focus your valuable time on an area that is useful to you.

Three levels of participation per Creating Community Conversations modules:

Level 1: Join a Master class - 4 x 90 minute standalone webinars, 1 in each module, covering relevant topics from expert speakers (100 spaces available per Masterclass)

Level 2: Join an Exploration Session – Relating to each Masterclass, 1 in each module, to deepen learning and work through real solutions with peer support (16 places available per Session)

Level 3: Join a Coaching Session – For participants requiring further support, a one-to-one coaching session will be available to work towards specific solutions (very limited spaces available)

Why take part?

This programme will guide you towards meaningful, targeted conversations with people in your community, especially those who experience the poorest health outcomes. This can bring a great number of benefits for individuals and for primary care, including more equitable access to services, improved health outcomes, and better use of resources. This programme will also help you to fulfil your contractual requirements with confidence and with impact. 

NHS England are working with Co-create to give you practical support and guidance to create community conversations in your work. Their team of expert associates will deliver the learning programme and have extensive skills and experience in both community involvement and in working alongside primary care.

How can you get involved?

You can choose to dip into any of the Creating Community Conversations modules. Each module has three levels; you will start at level 1 and discuss with facilitators if you want to progress to the next level in that module or not.

Full details of the Creating Community Conversations programme, session dates, and registration are all available at www.wearecocreate.com/community-conversations/.

Read Creating Community Conversations – A new online learning programme for Primary Care…

Sent on behalf of Dr Tim Davies and CARS 

We have been asked for clarity about the conditions within which VidPrevtyn Beta needs to be kept once it has been mixed. A number of sources (SPC, Green Book, e-Learning package, SPS website) all say things that could be interpreted as subtly different. I have been in contact with both UKHSA and NHS England national team and have been advised that the following advice is acceptable:

Once mixed, VidPrevtyn Beta can be kept for a maximum of 6 hours, after which it must be discarded.

If it is being used in a typical clinic setting (for example within a 2-3 hour period) it is acceptable for it to be left out of the fridge during that time.

If the vaccine is to be used over a more protracted time (up to the 6 hour maximum) then it should be placed back in to storage at 2-8 degrees for the periods of inactivity.

If it is unavoidable to keep the vaccine at room temperature for the full 6 hours then there is no need to discard the vaccine earlier than 6 hours and any vaccines given within that period will be acceptable. However, this is not best practice, and the expectation should be that where vaccine will be used over an extended period, up to the 6 hour limit, that it will be kept at 2-8 degrees during periods of inactivity. This may be by utilising a fridge or an appropriate cool box for domiciliary services.

Read Conditions for keeping VidPrevtyn once mixed…

Learn about how to improve your wellbeing whilst getting your steps in!

There are free wellbeing walks at the following locations and dates:

Wednesdays 10.30am to 12.30pm from Delapre Abbey Coach House

Wednesdays 2.30pm to 4.30pm from Heathers Kingsley Park Terrace

You can also try the Action for Happiness online 10 day coaching course. Please visit the Action for Happiness for more information on the course.

Download the free Action for Happiness app for iOS or Android. This will give you access the montly calendar, talks and the Action for Happiness community! The app will also give you friendly nudges with an action idea each day, send you inspiring messages to give you a boost and will help you connect and share ideas with like-minded people.

Read Walk and talk with us - Improve your happiness!…