As you be aware, although there is still a lot we don’t yet know about Omicron in terms of severity, it is estimated that the number of cases are doubling every two-to-three days and early evidence is indicating that two doses of the vaccine offer limited protection. This means that there is a real risk of significant increased pressure in primary care and other parts of the healthcare system.
We are advising practices to put in place a number of measures to ensure that you are prepared in the eventuality of another covid surge taking place. These are outlined below.
- Revisit covid risk assessments for all practice staff
- Ensure arrangements are put in place to support remote working, where necessary, including checking that laptops and other equipment to support remote working are fully functional
- Ensure processes are in place for all staff to have regular twice weekly Lateral Flow Tests. Guidance on the ordering of Lateral Flow Tests and the reporting of results can be found here
- Review vaccination status of staff and encourage those that are currently eligible to have boosters to do so. For those staff that are not yet vaccinated, subject to completion of parliamentary passage, it is expected that all general practice staff, unless exempt, will need to have received their first Covid vaccine dose by 3 February 2022 in order to have completed two doses by 1 April 2022 to meet the requirements of the vaccine mandate. (See information from Londonwide LMC)
- Review Infection, Prevention and Control arrangements (see London IPC Guidelines).
- Confirm buddying arrangements and resilience plans with other practices, PCNs, Federations and your local CCG Primary Care Team.
- Encourage patients to use on-line patient consultation tools, where appropriate.
As you will be aware, in recognition of the continued pressures that practices are under, we have put in place local measures to support practices through the extension of LIS Income Protection arrangements until April 2022. This assurance of confirmed funding should contribute toward helping practices to manage system pressures.
In addition, in recognition of the current exceptional circumstances, the CQC have today announced a postponement of on-site inspection activity in acute hospitals, ambulance services and general practice for the next three weeks with immediate effect - except in cases where we have evidence of risk to life, or the immediate risk of serious harm to people.
New antibody and antiviral treatments will be available from 16 December for patients at highest risk in the community, as outlined in the national letter of 9 December. Further information on how this will be introduced in NEL will follow.