Coventry & Warwickshire COVID-19 Portal

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WEBINAR: Running your CCG during the COVID-19 crisis, 9 April

We know that a lot of our members have been seeking legal advice on how to maintain effective operating procedures for their governing body during the COVID-19 crisis, financial governance arrangements, and to understand what the Coronavirus Bill means for CCGs.

We have therefore partnered with the law firm Browne Jacobson LLP and the Good Governance Institute to hold a webinar for CCGs on Thursday 9 April from 12-1pm, which will cover everything you need to know and answer any burning questions you may have. Register today to secure your place.

Last week (2 Apr) we published a member briefing providing an overview of national guidance on the use and supply of PPE in primary care, prepared jointly with the NHS Confederation's PCN Network. 

There have been very strong concerns among our members and the wider health sector that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is not reaching primary care teams in the quantity needed and in a timely fashion, leaving many CCGs, PCNs and GP practices feeling unable to safely carry out face-to-face consultations with patients. 

Julie Wood, chief executive, and Dr Graham Jackson, chair, are members of NHSEI's COVID-19 Primary Care Cell. Through this channel and others, we have spent a considerable amount of time feeding in your strong concerns around PPE to NHSEI, PHE and others to make sure that the latest guidance is appropriate, helpful and reflects the concerns you have told us about. 

Sign up for COVID-19 daily updates

We know that all of our members are working incredibly hard to tackle COVID-19 at the moment, and will be receiving a huge amount of information and emails. We will continue to send you Connect weekly, with a focus on bringing you the latest COVID-19 news and resources as concisely as possible. We have decided to freeze all other member network bulletins until further notice.

If you would like more frequent updates, as a member of NHSCC you are entitled to receive the NHS Confederation's COVID-19 Daily Member Briefing. Sign up here.

We know that the current situation is presenting significant challenges in you having to work very differently. We appreciate that you will now all be working hard on your plans for the Easter bank holiday weekend to ensure access to vital services that traditionally would not be open are available as part of the system-wide effort to support patients.

Do let us know if there is anything that we can do to help by emailing office@nhscc.org.

Mental health and COVID-19 guidance 

NHSEI has produced two pieces of guidance over the past week on mental health, learning disabilities and autism services that are relevant to CCGs. The first refers to the temporary changes to legislation such as the Mental Health Act 1983. The other focuses on managing capacity and demand in both inpatient and community services for all ages. All COVID-19 guidance related to mental health, learning disabilities and autism services can be found on the NHSEI website.

We have heard that NHSEI is asking all parts of the country to expedite the ambition to have a 24/7, single point of access for urgent mental health support that is available to the public.  

NHS England temporary framework for urgent and emergency eye care services 

NHS England has worked collaboratively to develop a temporary service framework that will achieve two key objectives: 

• Rapid implementation of safe urgent / emergency services

• keeping patients away from GPs, A&E, and HES 

They are awaiting formal approval from The College of Optometrists and the RCOphth to provide governance. CCGs that are interested in commissioning this service, or wish to receive more information, should contact Richard Everitt at richard.everitt@nhs.net.

Let us know what you like in NHSCC Connect? Are there other items you would like covered? Do let us know at press@nhscc.org

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