Would it be possible to reiterate to all pharmacies that OST i.e. methadone, buprenorphine, or any other OST medication cannot be delivered by the community hub.
 
We have had a 3 requests this week which have not been fulfilled as this is outside of the scope of delivery.  We are unsure if the clients have received their medication as 2 of them are not open to STARS.  We are requesting the pharmacy information and will contact them direct.  The other client, open to STARS, we are progressing.
 
Please let me know if you require any further information.
 
Thank you and regards
 
 

Gateshead GP Bypass Numbers can now be obtained by clicking here.

 you are aware the notifications of pharmacies‘ opening hours on Friday 8 May were circulated yesterday to pharmacies and interested parties.  Can you please reiterate the following message to all pharmacies:

• Contractors must update DoS themselves
• There will be no national block update of contractors' hours on DoS for the bank holiday opening on Friday 8th May, because the flexibility provided by NHSE&I means it is more appropriate for contractors to update entries.
• It is important for contractors to update their DoS entry, so that NHS 111 does not send a patient to a closed pharmacy, for example, as part of the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS).
• Contractors can use the DoS Profile Updater to make the necessary change by the end of Wednesday 6th May 2020. If you experience a last minute change, for example, due to staff illness, meaning you cannot open, pharmacies will need to use the DoS emergency change number instead: 0300 0200 363 (as well as notifying NHSE&I).

 
Contractors should also ensure that the pharmacy NHS website entry is correct for Friday 8th May.
 
We would like to request your assistance in asking pharmacies to update the DoS before tomorrow’s deadline and to remind them that all four sections of the DoS need to be updated.  PSNC has also issued a similar reminder to pharmacies.
 
I understand some pharmacies may be having issues with accessing the DoS.   I am advised that there has been a recent refresh of the Profiler URL and that pharmacies may need to clear their browsing history and cookies; as the computer may be remembering an old profile updater page.  The new one should look like:


Thank you for your assistance with this.

To all contractors,

If you need another clinical waste uplift please email Helen Scott in the first instance. ([email protected]) 

But, please note that masks, gowns and gloves are not deemed clinical waste. These products need to be double bagged, stored for 72 hours then put into normal waste.

It has come to the LPC’s attention that some of the mobile phones in a neighbouring LPC area had the bypass phone switched off, or on silent.

It’s probably worth each “PCN lead in Gateshead” collating the numbers of these phones and confirming that the phone is on etc.

The numbers will be circulated to the surgeries shortly.

Dear PCN leads in South Tyneside,

During the  Covid19 pandemic, GP2P consultations have reduced considerably. There has been an Idea floated by the commissioners that the service will be re-booted using telephone conversations with patients instead of face-face consultations for the foreseeable future - until we are on the other side of the pandemic. 

Before this is done, the commissioners must have assurance from contractors that commissioned pharmacies are comfortable with this approach - and that they can assure the commissioners that they will check the diary on the laptop frequently and that they have the capacity to do the consultations during the pandemic?

Would PCN leads please ensure that contractors that provide the GP2P service are able to do this, and are willing to take part?

I’d be grateful if you’d let me know as soon as possible if there any GP2P pharmacies not willing to engage at this point.

This is a useful flow chart and shows how deliveries are/could be done in Gateshead.
It’s been developed by Gateshead public health services.

Just to let you know that the revamped ST palliative care drug service has been refreshed and launches today.

We asked for volunteers and all those volunteers have now been commissioned by ST CCG to provide this service along with the original 2 Asda stores. This reconfigured service, with an expanded formulary launched tonight.

In addition, the new OOH service (pharmacist on-call) starts tonight - this includes volunteer pharmacists from these new palliative care pharmacies.

We asked for a coordinator and the LPC can announce that Lee Middleton working out of Bousteds in Jarrow has been commissioned to act as coordinator of the OOH service in ST.

The journey to launch these services has been complex, not least because of the need for virtual working, due to the pandemic. As a consequence I’d like to thank all those involved for burning the midnight oil and working with me to get them started tonight!
Dave Carter
Chairman