PCS Service Update

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We want to make sure it is as easy as possible for you to contact us about our services.

If you need to speak to PCS about any of our services then click on the blue button below to find out how to get help. Alternatively, you can book into one of our 'drop-in' sessions with Dr Andy Hilton and Nicki Doherty.

PCS contacts

Attend a virtual PCS drop-in session

In today's update we are covering:

Health checks submissions
HSJ Award winners
Covid-19 hub provision
Confirmatory PCR tests
Self-isolation support packs
SH Training event recording
Training for PCN staff: New dates added
PCS 'drop-in' sessions
Booking COVID tests for your team

For Action

Reminder Health checks submissions

As we have previously communicated, following discussions with Sheffield City Council it has been agreed that the current NHS Health Checks contract will come to an end as of 30 April 2021. Contract extensions were previously agreed to this date and we are aware that practices are still submitting activity claims for this period.

The last submission date for all health check submissions for contract year 2020/2021 will be the Saturday 15 May 2021. No payments will be made for submissions made after this date.

Please can practices aim to ensure that all submissions are submitted monthly leading up to this so that you are up to date. Please find enclosed the most up to date toolkit and guidance for both SystmOne and EMIS to support.

In light of the benefits many practices derive from Health Checks, we plan to work with the Council to ensure funding in this area is maintained whilst the council do further market testing ahead of procurement for a new contract to begin in April 2022.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support. If you have any questions, please contact us by emailing pcs.healthchecks@nhs.net.

Health checks tool kit

EMIS Guidance

SystmOne Guidance

For information

HSJ Award 2021 winners!

Huge congratulations to the Sevenhills+ Primary Care Network who have won the most coveted award in UK healthcare, a prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) award, recognising their outstanding contribution to healthcare.

Congratulations must also go to the Sheffield COVID-19 Community Testing Service and the Peak Edge Neighbourhood School Transformation Project who were also finalists at last night’s award hosted by Sir Lenny Henry and Victoria Derbyshire.

The judges said that, “The Sevenhills+ PCN implemented a new and important model of care to tackle health inequalities very successfully in the most challenging time. They showed an ability to recognise and reach out to the most vulnerable, based around wider determinants of population need. A pro-active approach to address health issues was showcased, which clearly demonstrated the impact they were having on patients. Judges hope they are able to secure further funding to continue the work across their, and additional Primary Care Networks”

Read the winning presentation here

In hours Covid-19 hub provision to be extended past 31 March 2021

Provision of centralised GP appointments for patients suspected of Covid-19 infection will continue past 31 March and will be reviewed on a monthly basis. PCS and CCG colleagues have agreed to extend the support to practices with a view to reduce it gradually as prevalence of the disease falls.

Building works at Darnall Primary Care Centre have impacted our ability to continue provision there, and so additional sessions will be put on at Sloan Medical Centre during the day and in evenings if necessary. This is in addition to regular sessions at Flowers Health Centre. We will also review the taxi provision if these changes have an adverse impact on travel for patients.

We’ll update you regularly prior to any reduction in cover so you have an opportunity to feed back and help inform the decision.

Confirmatory PCR tests following positive lateral flow tests

We’ve been working closely with Council colleagues to understand the impact of introducing lateral flow testing within the school population. We explored whether there’s anything PCS could do to support the rapid return to work of community health, social care and school staff in circumstances where they need to care for their children who are self-isolating. For now, we have agreed to monitor the impact on general practice and send out some clear messaging about current testing requirements.

The national media reporting of the impact of LFTs has not been helpful, so it’s perhaps worthwhile restating here what the various Covid-19 testing methods are.

Read in full here

Get a free PCR test

Self-isolation support packs

Sheffield City Council has created support packs for residents who have been asked to self-isolate. The Council have asked that practices help share these packs with patients who have tested positive for coronavirus.

Download the Self-isolation support pack here

Sexual Health Training Event

Last week we held our virtual IUCD fitters forum with Dr Prajnasri Tracey Dibble, Associate Specialist in Sexual and Reproductive Health, which was well attended. The event was recorded and is now able to be watched.

Training for PCN staff: New dates added

Register below for free CPR and fire safety training sessions which are available to any PCN-employed staff. These sessions are provided by Primary Training Solutions.

We have added two new courses:

Health and Safety+ this session encompasses Health and Safety, Information Governance, Infection Control (non-clinical), and Moving and Handling (non-clinical) content. This newly-developed course offers the benefit of combining four mandatory training courses into one comprehensive session.

Moving and Handling Clinical (especially recommended for clinical staff) this course will be delivered face-to-face and provides an ideal approach to safer and more effective manual handling – not only meeting HSE recommendations, but also promoting good and safe practices in any situation.

Places are offered on a first-come first-served basis, however if your choice of date is fully booked please add your details to the waiting list and we will contact you if a place becomes available. This course will be delivered via the Zoom platform so all booked staff must have appropriate equipment (computer/laptop with microphone and camera)

Please note that we continue to offer the CPR sessions 'in person' in line with national guidance. These sessions will follow the government's COVID-19 secure guidelines in full.

Health and Safety+ March 19th PM Session

CPR/AED March 24th AM Session

CPR/AED March 24th PM Session

CPR/AED April 4th PM Session

CPR/AED April 9th AM Session

Fire Safety April 21st AM Session

Moving & Handling Clinical April 21st AM Session

Health and Safety+ April 30th PM Session

PCS 'drop-in' sessions

The PCS team is always keen to hear about anything you would like to raise with us in the way of feedback or any ideas you may have on how we might shape things going forwards.

Andy Hilton and Nicki Doherty keep a lunch time “drop in” slot available in their diary on Wednesday (Andy) and Friday (Nicki). If you would like to catch-up with them in one of those, please simply click the button below, and we will get back to you to arrange that.

Please note that these 'drop-in' sessions are in addition to the 1:1 meetings we have been arranging with practices.

PCS drop-in slot request

Booking COVID tests for your team

We continue to be able to turnaround the majority of PCR test in our Sheffield Community Testing Service within 24 hours. Please use this service to access COVID-19 tests for your team members.

Download: Ask staff to save the contact details so they can easily access the service when needed.

Book a test: using the button below.

Book test

Save testing contact details to your outlook