Last Updated Thursday, 25 May 2006
This guidance has been
prepared on behalf of the BMA’s Pensions Department and General
Practitioners Committee by Kingston Smith Chartered Accountants in response to
common queries received from GPs and their accountants on the new arrangements
for assessing GP pensionable earnings – Local Copy
Frequently Asked Questions
– Updated August 2005
This guidance is only
relevant to England, Northern Ireland and Wales – Local Copy
New guidance released on the
DoH website - link
On 31st March 2005
the Golden Hello Scheme in
GPC - Guidance to LMCs on the
New Primary Care Development Scheme - 26 August 2005
The GPC previously agreed
with the Health Department that the Golden Hello scheme should be revised to
target under-doctored areas, and our negotiations for a revised scheme (which
began in the autumn of 2004) were completed earlier this year – Local Copy
(Extract from DoH Site) -
This document follows on from the publication of Creating
a Patient Led NHS in March, and focuses on how we will develop commissioning
throughout the whole NHS system, with some changes in function for PCTs and SHAs. In future both will concentrate on three main areas:
*
promoting health improvement and reducing inequalities
* securing
safe and high quality services for their population
* emergency planning
The document asks SHAs to work with their local health communities to
consider roles and responsibilities of organisations in their areas, and sets
out criteria for assessing any local proposals for change within a realistic
timetable. It also commits to a development process for PCTs and SHAs similar to that for NHS Trusts to prepare them fully
for their new roles. – Link – or local PDF
This guidance note replaces
and supplements our earlier Focus on community hospital GPs: interim guidance
which was issued in February 2005. This guidance:
- recognises the problems
facing GPs working in community hospitals
- sets out the measures that
the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) is taking to remedy the situation,
including our evidence to the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body
(DDRB) and the recently negotiated Powys agreement by GPC Wales
- details the DDRB pay award
for 2005-2006
- provides advice as to what
action GPs and Local Medical Committees (LMCs) could be taking locally,
including conducting local negotiations and offers a model service level
agreement with different pricing arrangements.
Focus on community hospital GPs - July 2005
Focus on community hospital GPs - Appendix A - Powys Agreement
Focus on community hospital GPs - Appendix
B - SLA England
Focus on community hospital GPs - Appendix
C - Costings
Local PDF Copy also see…
http://www.nhsemployers.org/pay-conditions/agenda-for-change.cfm
Introduction: This
guidance has been amended (superseding 1998 guidance) to take account of the
changes in The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts)
Regulations 2004. It informs primary medical service contractors of their
obligations in respect of patients either requesting emergency dental treatment
or asking for an NHS prescription for drugs recommended by private or NHS
dentists. - Local PDF Copy
New GMS Contract
– Additional Funding for General Practice IT (
Gateway Ref: 2159 - Local
PDF Copy
This GPC receives many
queries from GPs and LMCs with regard to their obligations or otherwise in
relation to issuing medical reports and certificates.
This guidance will look at:
·
GPs’ obligations – in both GMS and PMS contracts particularly in
relation to certificates issued by the Department of Work and Pensions
·
Collaborative arrangements – how these work and the GP’s position
·
Non-NHS work – where a GP can charge for the provision of a
certificate/statement/report
www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2004/20041768.htm
www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2004/20041772.htm
Guidance for GP registrars on
Maternity, paternity, parental and adoptive leave,
includes maternity leave entitlement, paternity leave, parental leave, adoptive
leave, time off for dependants and some frequently asked questions and
answers...
GPC Guidance - May 2001
(revised April 2004) – Local Copy as PDF
These Directions and Code
replace those issued in September 2004. They take account of discussions,
including in relation to Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) assessments. The
revised Code should be read as a whole. Key changes are in paragraphs 11, 26
and 30-32 of the Code.
Introduction. This Code of
Practice sets out guidance on the confidentiality of information held by
contractors - referred to collectively in this document as
“contractors” – who provide General Medical Services (GMS),
Personal Medical Services (PMS) and Alternative Provider Medical Services
(APMS). It also sets out guidance on the provision of contractor-held
information to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), and access by, and disclosure of,
that information to PCTs or a person authorised in writing by PCTs. DOH Link – Doh Document Link – Local PDF
A significant number of
queries have been coming into the GPC office in relation to private hospitals
and care home provision. There are a number of reasons why this issue has
become an increasing concern.
·
The classification of services under the new GMS contract
·
The reclassification of some former residential and nursing homes to private
hospitals
The increasing number of
secondary care type services being provided in some residential and nursing
homes - Local Copy of Guidance or visit BMA
General Medical Services
(GMS), Personal Medical Services (PMS), and Alternative Provider Medical
Services (APMS) Code of Practice 2005 - Link
• GPC
Guidance - Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Frequently Asked Questions
– April 2005 - PDF
• Statement
on PMS Uplift for 2005/06 - PMS (Payments for Specific Purposes)
• GPC
Guidance - Removal of patients from GP lists – April 2005 - PDF
• GPC
Guidance - Medical performers list for GPs applying as individuals –
April 2005 - PDF
• The new
GMS contract explained - Focus on…. Assessment of GP Pensionable Earnings
– March 2005 - PDF
• The new
GMS contract explained - Focus on…. The Dynamising Factor – March
2005 - PDF
• Note
on…. Non-GP partners’ pension contributions and tax relief –
March 2005 - PDF
• Standard
General Medical Services Contract Variation Notice – April 2005 (Note 32
pages) - PDF
to be introduced on 16 July 2005
In
- Link
There has been some
discussion lately about whether or not it is appropriate to agree a LES to fund
practices in the preparation or delivery of practice based commissioning
(PBC). Costs incurred through planning for PBC should not be funded from
enhanced services floor (ESF) money. The Department of Health’s technical
guidance on PBC (paragraphs 39-46) clearly states that the initial costs, in
terms of necessary resources and management support, will be provided in
advance by the PCT. The PCT can then recoup this outlay from resources
subsequently freed up at the end of each financial year. Details can be found
at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/10/50/33/04105033.pdf
Management costs of PBC, most of which will cover clinicians’ time, are
not a service to patients so cannot come from the enhanced services floor. The
PCT should finance these management costs. Where it refuses to do so, practices
may wish to reconsider the terms under which they will enter into the
commissioning role.
The Primary Care Development subcommittee would be very grateful to receive
examples, in outline or in detail, of local PBC arrangements. These can be
emailed to sal-zaidy@bma.org.uk - Many
thanks,
PMS -
Goodwill Guidance - DH Link or Local
PDF Copy
Alternative Provider
Medical Services - National Health
Service Act 1977 APMS
Primary Care Trust Medical
Services - National Health Service
Act 1977 PCTMS
Primary Care Trust Medical Services (PCTMS) Guidance - PCTs will be able to provide services themselves by directly employing staff, under the PCTMS route. The PCT may wish to employ full time staff to provide a full range of services, or employ staff on a sessional or part time basis - DH Link
This document sets out guidance for Personal Medical
Services (PMS) providers, Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities.
It explains how PMS will change from 1st April 2004.
• Revised Link to main document as PDF
• Download draft PMS
contractor budget spreadsheet (XLS, 67K)
• Personal medical services (PMS)
Patient
and Public Involvement (PPI) in the NHS or the Commission for Patient and Public
Involvement in Health was set up in
January 2003. Web homepage - http://www.cppih.org/ - Further details available on our dedicated page – PPI Page
This guidance has been prepared by the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA, in consultation with the BMA's regional offices and the BMA's legal advisors and the GPC's legal advisors. It is intended to help general practitioners to identify matters they may wish to cover under a partnership agreement when practising either under the new General Medical Services Contract or under Personal Medical Services.
Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the information contained in this guidance is accurate, no representations or warranties are made (whether express or implied) as to the reliability or completeness of such information. The BMA's and the GPC's legal advisors therefore cannot be held liable for any loss arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or any action taken in reliance on, any information appearing in this guidance.
Document as PDF or GPC site - http://web.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/PartnershipAgreements0504
The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2004/20040291.htm#27
The DoH have compiled a table which indicates the
substantive differences between the draft and final versions of the Regulations
- PDF
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Various Premises & Partnership
Issues: • Abolition of the Medical
Practices Committee (MPC) means that from 1 April consideration of whether or
not a transaction involving the sale of medical practices contains an element
of goodwill becomes a function of the Secretary of State for Health. • Primary Premises - Link • Cost rent scheme - Prescribed Percentages The GPC have
issued a new guidance note on "The future of GP practice premises"
- PDF •
“Skill Mix in Primary Care – Implications for the Future” -
PDF • GPC
Guidance - The New Procedures for Appointing GP Principals (23 Oct) - PDF •
Medical Practices Committee Home Page - listing all MPC Newsletters – Link • MPC – PMS Pilot
Applications for the 3rd Wave Link (posted
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Medical
Devices – Sterilization – Mercury Issues • Latest MDA Advice on “Blood pressure Devices – Mercury and Non-mercury” Link Issue MDA DB2000 (03) dated
July 2000 ~ note this link is to a PDF file (posted •
Decontamination & Sterilization
of Equipment – HTML ( • Medical Devices Agency – Link • HSC
2000/032 |
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General Medical Services Contract - What it means for Primary Care Trusts New Web Site - Link Action required:
The new contract will transfer responsibility
for out of hours care from GPs to the PCT. This is a major change which will
require considerable work by PCTs to ensure a smooth transition. This change
is however consistent with the development of out of hours
services, especially since the
SHA Lead - |
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Resolutions of the
Conference of Local Medical Committees - 2003 These are available as HTML or as a Word
Document |
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Main LMC
Conference 12 & Resolutions of the Conference of Local Medical Committees - 2003 These are available as HTML or as a Word
Document |
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Special LMC
Conference – 14 May 2003 - Motions
– Delegate
List This is a
special conference to discuss the issues, concerns and problems identified
within the New GP Contract proposals. |
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Childhood Immunisation: a guide for
Healthcare Professionals Please note that this report is a guide for general
practitioners and other healthcare professionals on issues relating to
childhood immunisation – it is not intended to be a comprehensive text
on immunisation. Available as PDF
download |
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• JCVI Statement: Haemophilus influenzae
type b (Hib) • Copying Letters to Patients – Documentation & Guidance - Link • NHS Complaints Reform - Making Things Right - PDF • Carers
and • GPAQ - a patient questionnaire for the GP contract - Link GPAQ is a patient questionnaire which has been
developed at the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre in GPAQ is free to use for practices and PCTs. It can either be administered by post, or after consultations in the surgery. On this site, you can find out how to get started, download the questionnaire and manual, order printed copies of the questionnaire, and find out how to produce reports. You can also download software for more sophisticated analyses, and look up national benchmarks for GPAQ Questions. • Supplementary Prescribing • Supplementary prescribing is being introduced this month (April). Ministers have agreed that supplementary prescribing should initially be introduced for nurses and pharmacists. • It is a voluntary prescribing partnership between a doctor and the supplementary prescriber, to implement a patient-specific ‘clinical management plan’ with the patient’s agreement. It will enable nurses to increase the range of medical conditions for which they can prescribe and free up doctors’ time. • Supplementary prescribing is likely to be most useful in dealing with long-term medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. • Nurses have already started training as supplementary prescribers and pharmacists will begin training in spring this year. • Nurses trained to prescribe from the Nurse Prescribers’ Extended Formulary can become supplementary prescribers after completing a two-day top up course. More information is at www.doh.gov.uk/supplementaryprescribing • General Practice Clinical Information Systems in
The General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association has expressed concern to the Department of Health about pressures that are being placed on practices to change clinical computer systems. This follows a number of complaints that have been raised with the BMA by the practices concerned. This note is intended to address the issues that need to be considered in such circumstances and to inform PCOs and practices as to the issues involved. In summary practices should, not be forced or coerced, to change their clinical computer system. - Link Also see - Primary Care Computing - Link • Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill The Health and Social Care
(Community Health and Standards) Bill is now available on the http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmbills/070/2003070.htm • Speech by John Hutton MP, Minister of State for Health, to NAGPC (National Association of General Practitioners Co-operatives), • Results of the Ballot On the proposed merger
of Bay/Templer/Sea Doc - PDF – • NHS GP DELAYED RETIREMENT SCHEME - Link Application for payments under the Delayed Retirement Scheme for GMS or PMS GPs Eligible practitioners
must be aged between 60 and 64 inclusive on or after GMS GPs employing
an assistant (including GP retainees), associate or
salaried GP, who may be eligible for a payment under the NHS Delayed
Retirement Scheme. GMS GP principals are not required to complete an
application form. Payments to principals will be paid automatically via the • Supplementary prescribing by nurses & pharmacists – Mar 03 - PDF • Working Group: Copying letters to patients - http://www.doh.gov.uk/patientletters/ • Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report A copy of the report is available at www.victoria-climbie-inquiry.org.uk/finreport/finreport.htm • New Strategic National Guidance: - Link 'The decontamination of people exposed to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear substances or material' • Audit Commission Report on PMS - Link • The NHS Identity Guidelines: GP Surgeries Pilot Programme – Link Introducing the NHS identity to GP surgeries guidance has been produced to help introduce the NHS identity consistently. • Supplementary prescribing Key changes to supplementary prescribing by nurses and pharmacists following doctor’s diagnosis are being introduced. Once trained, supplementary prescribers will be able to prescribe all medicines currently prescribed by doctors – except unlicensed medicines (unless part of clinical trials) and controlled drugs. Prescribing of controlled drugs will be included after legislative changes. There will be no legal limit on the conditions that may be included in supplementary prescribing. Implementation guidelines will be issued shortly. Details at: www.doh.gov.uk/supplementaryprescribing • GPs with a Special Interest – update A programme to take forward the development of GPs with a special interest will be run jointly by the NHS Modernisation Agency and the National Primary and Care Trust (NatPaCT) development team. Details at: www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/gp-specialinterests • Steriliser Guidance – February 2003 - Link The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) has produced new guidance on the purchase, operation and maintenance of all types of bench-top steam sterilizers. Guidelines are intended for potential buyers, current owners and users. DB 2002(06) Benchtop Steam Sterilizers - Guidance on Purchase, Operation and Maintenance • GPC Vacancy Survey 2003 Vacancy rates among British GPs are rapidly increasing according to a new BMA survey. It shows the number of unfilled family doctor posts is growing, resulting in the remaining GPs struggling to cope with the needs of well over a million extra patients PDF • Hospital and Community Health Services - HSC 2003/004 Capital allocations 2003-4 to 2005-6 - Link • Good Medical Practice for Doctors providing Primary Care Services in Prison – New Guidance • Provisional Performance Indicators for PCTs PCTs will receive full performance ratings in 2003 for the first
time. PCTs are relatively new organisations and still in the early stages of
development. As they develop their capacity, the commissioning agenda, and
their roles as providers it will be possible to gather new levels of
information and create new indicators. We are continuing to work with PCTs
and professional bodies, to ensure that future indicators are available to
reflect these organisational developments. These indicators provide useful
information for patients and the service. - Link |
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General
Practitioner Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy Survey 2002 |
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Primary Premises - Link A website designed to help find information about improving and developing primary care premises has gone online. NHS Estates has compiled the site, which gives advice on guidance on all aspects of the processes involved. Designed for strategic health authorities, primary care trusts, clinicians and staff, it includes features on capital and revenue funding options and NHS LIFT. The site also covers developments in primary care and the changing demands on premises, including options for diagnosis and treatment centres and research projects. |
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Various Recent Items • Training and preparing nurse prescribers – Link • A modernised NHS pay system November 2002 - Link • Letter
to the profession by Dr John Chisholm (Chairman of the GPC) – • GP bulletin November 2002 - PDF • GPC Negotiations Bulletin – Sept 2002 – download • GPC News October 2002 - DOC • The
Health Authorities Preparation of Proposals for Pilot Schemes (PMS)
(Amendment) • Managers' Guide - Stopping Violence Against Staff Working in the NHS The guidance is available at www.nhs.uk/zerotolerance/ or from the NHS Response line tel: 08701 555 455 • Government
Response to the report from the Independent Expert Group on • Immunisation
Against Infectious • Generic medicines - Review of the Maximum Price Scheme - Link • Improvement, expansion & reform: the next 3 years priorities & planning framework 2003 – 2006 - Link plus PDF • NHS
Reform Act Part 1 - changes from NHS Reform & Health Care Professions Act 2002 - http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020017.htm SI 2363 - http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2002/20022363.htm • GPC News – September 2002 – download • GPC Negotiations Bulletin – September 2002 – download • Payments to suspended non-principals - Link The Statement of Fees and Allowances has been amended to make provision for payments to be made to doctors suspended under the NHS (General Medical Services Supplementary List) Regulations 2001. • MMR Web site launched - http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/ • Skin cancer – Department of Health SunSafe web pages - Link • Consultation on draft Mental Health Bill - Link •
Making a • Consultation on reform of the General Medical Council The consultation document is at www.doh.gov.uk/gmcreform.htm • Reform of the General Medical Council - A paper for consultation May 2002 - Link |
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News Items & Various Recent Govt Circulars, HSCs & Other Info • Accrediting Providers of Out-of-Hours Care - A system for improving patient care & assuring quality - Link • No funds for GPs in • Hepatitis B - Immunisation of
short-term foster carers - £44k for • Evaluation of Treating Patients Overseas - Final Report • Residential Care & Nursing Home Sector for Older People: - Link • NHS Magazine on line - http://www.nhs.uk/nhsmagazine/default.asp • Destruction of Controlled Drugs in GP Practices – Link • Accreditation of Organised Providers of Out-of-hours Services - Link (3 Sept) • GP Bulletin – September 2002 – Link • FLU Immunisation Campaign 2002/2003 – Web Resources - Link • Shifting the Balance of Power - Information Flows and Structures Programme Overview – Summary (from the DoH website http://www.doh.gov.uk/ipu/stbop/overview.htm ) • Supplementary Prescribing by Nurses and Pharmacists - Frequently Asked Questions - Link • Chief Executive Bulletin 12- • GMS Determination/ SFA Amendment - Link The
Secretary of State, after consultation with the representatives of the
profession, hereby makes a determination in accordance with Regulation 34 of
the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, as
amended, and has updated the Statement of Fees and Allowances as set out in
the attached pages. The amendment has effect from • GPs Fees and Allowances & Superannuation – Link On • St BoP: New Arrangements for Managing General Medical Practitioner Appointments- Link • Achieving and Sustaining Improved Access to Primary Care - Link • Clinical Guidance from the National Institute For Clinical Excellence: Timing and Selection of Topics for Appraisal - PDF • UPDATED January 2002 - A Framework for Personal Medical Services (PMS) Pilot Agreements Introduction to the framework for agreements – Link • PMS Revised Framework Documents as PDF • Flu and Flu Immunisation Use of Zanamivir (brand name Relenza) – Link "Based on isolates from PHLS and consultation data from the RCGP, influenza is not yet circulating in the community. In line with NICE guidance, the use of Zanamivir is not recommended at present." • Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) - A resource pack - Link • Redefining the National Health Service – Link Speech
by Rt Hon Alan Milburn MP, Secretary of State for
Health - to the New Health Network - • Shifting the Balance of Power: The Next Steps - Link Shifting the Balance of Power: The Next Steps sets out the way forward on implementing the policy of shifting the balance of power in the NHS. It builds on comments and advice received during the discussion period in the autumn. • Getting Ahead Of The Curve - A strategy for combating infectious diseases (including other aspects of health protection) A report by the Chief Medical Officer – Link • Meningitis C immunisation extended to more young people (7 Jan) - Link • IM&T Guidance for Primary Care Organisations – PDF • DDRB award 2002 - Letter to GPs - Review Body Report 2002 – Link The Thirty-first Report of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration has been published. GPC members have been sent a copy of the report. The review body has recommended basic increases over currentlevels of remuneration of 3.6% for all doctors. However, due to the evidence given to the DDRB by the GPC, and because of the exceptional situation in general practice, the review body has recognised the need for an urgent and immediate response, and recommended an additional 1% increase in GPs' gross income, making an increase of 4.6%. Taking into account payments made to doctors entering general practice for the first time ('golden hellos'), the increase is 5%. • New GP Regulations Raise Human Rights Concerns, says BMA - Link Concerns
that new Government regulations for family doctors contravene the European
Convention of Human Rights have prompted the British Medical Association to
raise the matter with • The National Service Framework for • Framework for lifelong learning in the NHS - Link • Flexible careers scheme for doctors - Link • BMA
backs an end to post-code prescribing ( • New Christmas campaign launched as survey reveals lack of awareness about organ donation – Link • Advice On Travel-Related Deep Vein Thrombosis - Link • Prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis infections in the United Kingdom 2000 - Link Annual report of the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme •
Smoking, Drinking and Drug use among young people in Report on smoking, drinking and drugs misuse amongst secondary schoolchildren aged 11 - 15 in 2000. • PFI
extended into Primary Care into poorest parts of New Cash injection to improve GP surgeries • Flexible Careers Scheme for Doctors - PDF • BMA's National Survey of GP Opinion • BMA press release - Radical action required to keep family doctors in the NHS - Link • Summary of key findings – Link • Implementing the OOH Review: Raising Standards for Patients. New Partnerships in Out-of-Hours Care Three Year Planning Guidance – Link • National Clinical Assessment Authority – Update - Link |
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News Items & Various Recent Govt Circulars, HSCs & Other Info (Sept - Nov 2001) • Primary Care Practice Nurses and annual pay reviews – Link • GP
Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy Survey 2001 for • Winter and Emergency Services Team – Link Reforming Emergency Care.. First Steps to a New Approach. • Launch of • Report on GP Appraisal - Link • Renal Services NSF - Link • Primary Care Trusts and Groups - Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: involving general practice - Link • New Powers
for HAs and PCTs to • Creutzfeldt-Jakob
• Message from Dr Pat Troop, Deputy CMO, Department of Health - Link • Download the Consultation Document Link • CARE Information and help for older people. • Contact - A directory for mental health – Link • Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Review for 2002 - Link • Review
Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Review for 2002 - Written
Evidence from the Health Departments for • Review
Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to
Medicine Review for 2002 - Written Evidence from the Health Departments for •
Personal Medical Services - Draft 4th Edition Comprehensive Guidance • Nurse Prescribing •
Identifying nurses for extended nurse prescribing preparation in • Extension of independent nurse prescribing frequently asked questions – Link |
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Patient Group •
HSC 2000/026 Patient
Group • GPC - Guidance on Relenza and patient group directions - Link •
Specimen - Patient Group • NICE - Guidance on the use of Zanamivir (Relenza) - Link • GPC - Guidance on Zanamivir (Relenza) - Link • PHLS Surveillance of Influenza Weekly Reports - Link • FLU Immunisation Campaign – Link |
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Medical Devices – Sterilization – Mercury Issues Top • Latest MDA Advice on “Blood pressure Devices – Mercury and Non-mercury” Link Issue MDA DB2000 (03) dated July
2000 ~ note this link is to a PDF file (posted • Decontamination & Sterilization of Equipment
– HTML
( • Medical Devices Agency – |