Friday 29 May 2020

Good Afternoon,                                         

Welcome to our first Primary Locums newsletter, we hope it is a helpful and enjoyable read on this Friday afternoon.

Recent times have been challenging and we have all adapted to a new way of working and so we thought it would be beneficial to share some information with yourselves. We would love it if you followed us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn too, we are always posting relevant articles and information that we come across.

Practice Manager Survey Results

An insight into the initial COVID-19 effect on Practice Workforce & Staffing Levels click here for top line results http://159.65.50.118/2020/05/19/workload-staffing-survey-april-2020/

CQC Inspections

These have been temporarily paused routine inspections, an Emergency Support framework has been put in place click on the link belowhttps://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/how-we-inspect-regulate/emergency-support-framework-what-expect

Staff Burnout & Stress Related Anxiety & Depression

COVID 19 has had an impact on us all, be that our physical or mental health. As Practice Managers we know that your workload increased hugely at the outset and we suspect that you were also required to deal with the anxieties of others within your team, we hope that you remember to look after yourselves too. There has been quite a lot of research and coverage of the burnout and stress of GPs, Nurses and other clinical staff, if you need any extra help for you or other members of your team, here are a couple of links below:

• Nearly half of GP’s have reported suffering from work-related anxiety, burnout and depression, with a third saying this has worsened during COVID – have you noticed your staff need a break? https://www.gponline.com/increasing-numbers-gps-suffering-burnout-depression-during-covid-19-outbreak/article/1683827  
• https://work.headspace.com/nhs-clinical/member-enroll
• https://www.nhsemployers.org/news/2020/04/new-staff-health-and-wellbeing-support

Risk Assessments & Home Working

• Advice for home working – This article provides helpful advice and guidance Enabling and supporting staff to work from home. https://practicebusiness.co.uk/enabling-and-supporting-staff-to-work-from-home/

• Primary Locums Home working experiences http://159.65.50.118/2020/05/07/the-virtual-world/
• NHS Employers have posted some guidance on how to improve your risk assessments for those in your workforce at risk or vulnerable – see the full article here: https://www.nhsemployers.org/covid19/health-safety-and-wellbeing/risk-assessments-for-staff

Workload

• NHS England have suggested GP practices should soon resume routine work, but only if it can be done ‘safely’.  https://managementinpractice.com/covid-19/resuming-routine-appointments-is-necessary-but-gp-practices-need-freedom-to-decide-when-and-how/
• We are here to help with extra cover if you need it, be that GP locum, ANP, Independent Pharmacy Prescriber, Practice Nurse, HCA or admin
• Recruitment services – if you need help with recruitment for permanent staff please let Louise know lswinburne@primarylocums.com as now is a good time to fill that salaried/partner post.

Other

• There is a wide range of offers that you as an NHS worker can take advantage of, if you haven’t see the list already just click on the link, from chocolate, parking to supermarkets https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/nhs-staff-offers/
• We thought you might enjoy watching the Geordie Anthem that the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust created to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of clapping for carers last night https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=4o0wEWp-3io&feature=emb_logo
• Have you used our services recently? If so you can leave a review: https://practiceindex.co.uk/gp/primary-locums or on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/primarylocumsNE/

Thank you for reading – let us know if this has been helpful!

We have conducted a survey amongst our GP locums and the results offer an insight into what it has been like to be a GP Locum thoughout this pandemic so far.

75% are financially suffering due to a loss in income

70% suffered cancellations in bookings

77% feel that measures put in place to deal with the pandemic will negatively impact the management of other health issues in the future.

69.8% are worried about future complaints following the change in working practices.

71% feel they now have sufficient PPE

This pandemic is affecting us all, but the words our GP locums use themselves communicate best what is like working as a GP locum now.

A short survey was emailed to Practice Managers across the North East at the end April 2020, to determine if the Coronavirus is situation had had an effect on both their workload and their team, in addition to other factors that might affect staffing levels.

The survey offered the following key findings:

• 68% of Practice Manager’s indicated that their workload’s had increased at the outset of the Coronavirus pandemic. 75% noted that there the number of emails received more than doubled at the outset of the pandemic, some commented they had quadrupled.

• The workload of all other practice team members reduced at the outset of the pandemic with the exception of the Independent Pharmacy Prescribers, but once the current restrictions are lifted the view was that other team members workload will increase.
• Practice Managers have noted a 71% reduction in recorded patient contact with the practice.
• The pandemic was having an impact on staff holidays and the practice holiday policy, 57.6% indicated they have a policy requiring staff to take their holiday in the holiday year, and were encouraging staff to do so for their own well being, it was indicated that there is flexibility in relation to existing holidays and there is the possibility of discussion.

We would like to extend our sympathies, thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr Poornima Nair, who sadly lost her fight to coronavirus. We are proud to say that she worked with us in our very early days and helped to contribute to building the reputation that we have today. She was always a joy and pleasure to work with and we didn’t want her passing to go unrecognised by ourselves. We are sure that she will leave a huge hole in the lives of her loved one, but we are certain that she leaves a legacy of happy memories that will live on forever. We feel priviledged to have known and worked with her and hope that she rests in peace. x