Our Interface Officer Simon Nichols gives his latest update on activity to support practices with interface issues.
Humberside LMC Interface Update
Last month, we published our report on the impact of interface difficulties on general practice in Humberside. This month, we have been focussing on how the findings of our report can affect positive chance. We are pleased to say that we will be discussing this with Place colleagues in the East Riding and Hull, as well as North and North East Lincolnshire, in March. We are confident that our findings can inform the development of new working groups and/or workstreams. We will update you in due course.
As always, you see our most up to date interface presentation on our website. Since we started recording interface difficulties in April 2023, we have addressed 315 interface difficulties. In ascending order, the biggest source of interface queries you told us about relate to communication shared care (8%), making referrals (12%), and communication (27%). Communication difficulties include difficulties with discharge letters, clinic letters, results, and appointments. Do let us know if this isn’t your experience.
Key Ongoing Interface Issues
South Bank
Workload Transfer
We’ve seen an increase in reports of secondary care colleagues directing patients to their GP for a fit note. We’ve also seen an increase in reports of patients being redirected to their GP for the results of investigations, by secondary care colleagues. These are coming from a range of different departments but, most recently, they seem to be from ENT and Ophthalmology.
Tier 3 and 4 Weight Management
We are aware that GPs are being asked to authorise referrals from Tier 3 weight management to Tier 4 weight management. This has been identified as un-resourced work. Please let us know if you receive this or any similar requests.
Please let us know if you are experiencing any inappropriate workload shifts, or un-resourced work, and we will address these for you. You can e-mail your examples to humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net. All you need to provide is an NHS number, the provider/department it relates to, and a brief explanation of the issue.
North Bank
BadgerNet
In February, Humberside LMCs were made aware of an app called BadgerNet which was launched by maternity services at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH). We are still trying to identify what, if any, consultation took place during the development and implementation of this new system. BadgerNet has not yet been endorsed by Humberside LMCs and we have raised a number of concerns about the system. However, we have received assurance from HUTH that results will be received by practices in the usual way. We are continuing to work with ICB and HUTH colleagues to resolve any ongoing issues.
Maternity Services at HUTH
After BadgerNet was launched, it became clear that there may be ongoing workload shifts into general practice, from maternity services at HUTH. Please let us know if you are experiencing any inappropriate workload shifts. For example, asking GPs to prescribe when a prescription should be issued by the hospital, or asking the GP to notify patients the outcome of investigations undertaken by the maternity team. You can e-mail your examples to humberside.lmcgroup@nhs.net. All you need to provide is an NHS number, the provider/department it relates to, and a brief explanation of the issue.
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