STARS have taken the decision to support Pharmacies in South Tyneside by continuing to pay the Supervision fees at Februarys levels

Dear all,
Please note that all Pharmacies will be contacted by NHSE regarding the hours they will be open over the next bank holiday.

See message from NHSE Below

Dear LPC colleagues
 
This is just a courtesy email to advise that following the release of the national direction on Friday that all pharmacies are to open between 2 and 5 pm on Bank Holiday Friday 8 May 2020, we are starting to contact pharmacies today (as our team has been asked to establish the opening hours for each of our pharmacies).   
 

• We are reiterating to pharmacies the requirement for all stores to open as above.
• We are pointing out however, that there is flexibility for pharmacies to open for an alternative 3-hr period (ie 10-1 / 9-12 etc) should they so wish – but pharmacies will need to confirm the exact hours to our team
• We are reminding pharmacy colleagues to update their DoS profile and NHS England website with their revised opening hours.
• We we will only consider exemptions for individual pharmacies once we have an overall picture of open pharmacies but are likely only be granted for circumstances beyond pharmacies’ control.
• As yet, we do not know whether there will be a similar direction at the BH on 25 May 2020, but we are  asking pharmacies to confirm what their opening hours will be, if this does turn out to the be the case.
• Lastly, pharmacies have been or will shortly be sent an email with a link to enable them to amend the RAG capacity status notification for DoS, which indicates to call handlers when pharmacies are having busy periods, so we are using this opportunity to remind pharmacists to activate the RAG rating by following the detail in the email they have been, or will be sent.  The email goes to the shared mailbox and the teams need to access the email and click on the link to activate the log in.  This is being rolled out by CCG area and I understand that Northumberland pharmacies have all now been contacted.

 
Thanks & regards 

Dear all,
I’ve just had a useful conversation with Gateshead council regarding help they’d like to offer to pharmacies in GATESHEAD.
Basically council staff from public health are currently working from home and have capacity to help with deliveries. Clearly these staff are working under an assurance frameworks; and have had disclosure and baring checks etc.
I’d be grateful if PCN leads in Gateshead would cascade this information and let me know by posting to this forum the names of Pharmacies that DON’T CURRENTLY OFFER a delivery service or Pharmacies that would like help with deliveries.
Best Wishes,

Dave

Hi all
 
You should have received these earlier in the week directly from HEE. Please highlight them to your pharmacy teams via your usual communication channels. Although HEE have sent them aimed at pre-reg students, the resources can be accessed by anyone with an NHS email so useful for the whole team.

Roursces Can be downloaded here
Contacts at HEE can be downloaded here

Dear all,
I’ve just had a useful conversation with Gateshead council regarding help they’d like to offer to pharmacies in GATESHEAD.
Basically council staff from public health are currently working from home and have capacity to help with deliveries. Clearly these staff are working under an assurance frameworks; and have had disclosure and baring checks etc.
I’d be grateful if PCN leads in Gateshead would cascade this information and let me know by posting to this forum the names of Pharmacies that DON’T CURRENTLY OFFER a delivery service or Pharmacies that would like help with deliveries.
Best Wishes,
Dave

Hi
 
Hope everyone OK.
 
Just wanted to let you know that Primary Care across South Tyneside is planning for potential escalation requirements, should practices not be able to function independently due to staff absence and sickness in the current environment.
 
We have graded levels called OPEL Levels 1 – 4.  One being where practices are now, mostly telephone and video consultations and 4 being where practices across all three PCNs work as one “unit”.
 
We are planning to test OPEL level three next week, which could mean for a short period of time, prescriptions may be issued by GPs for patients not registered at their own practice.  There is a lot of technology and operational stuff to sort to run this test, but it is currently planned for Wednesday 23rd April.  Subject to operational resources available, it may be that OPEL 3 continues during the current pandemic until further notice, or that it is stood back down to level 1 or 2.
 
I will keep you posted, but just wanted to let you know so that you can advise your pharmacy members of this activity in advance.
 
Kind regards

Dear all,

I’ve just come off a teleconference with several members of staff from South Tyneside Council. 

In a nutshell, they would like to offer support to pharmacies with deliveries, PPE and social distancing within ST 

To that end we need to understand which pharmacies would like help of this type during the covid19 crisis.

I’d be grateful if PCN leads in South Tyneside could cascade this request to all contractors:-

Please let us know if you are struggling with deliveries and require help, or struggling with social distancing within your pharmacy, or struggling obtaining PPE

Further I’d be grateful if PCN leads could post back here any help required for the particular pharmacies within your PCN and I’ll pick it back up with the Counci or your behalf.

Gateshead Council have set up a series of hubs to help with essential deliveries for shielded patients and food distribution etc.


Please signpost your patients to these hubs using the emails below or via the telephone number.

How to get in touch
Lead Co-ordinatorCommunity Hub
Gary Carr - [email protected]Chopwell Community Centre
Winlaton Centre
Paul Cairns – [email protected]Whickham Library
Dunston Activity Centre
David Andrew – [email protected]Gateshead Leisure Centre
Elgin Centre
Stephen Ward – [email protected]Edberts House (temporary venue)
Larkspur School
Brian Kielty – [email protected]Birtley Community Centre and Birtley Partnership
 
For questions about shielding, community hub location or purpose, food distribution and other emergency aid, VCSE and/or mutual aid collaboration, please direct these enquiries to Ian Stevenson, Neighbourhood Management Team Leader on 0191 4332812 or Alison Dunn, Strategic Lead for Poverty and Inequality, on 0191 4332710.