ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 4, 25 June 2026
27 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Propafenone 150mg tablets shortage
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Propafenone 150mg is unavailable until about 31 July 2026. Seek specialist advice. Options include flecainide, or 300mg tablets if the dose allows (don't halve them).
- Disopyramide (Rythmodan) shortages
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Rythmodan 100mg capsules are out of stock until April 2027, and the 250mg MR tablets until late July 2026. Seek cardiology advice on alternatives or unlicensed imports.
- Rybelsus: switch patients to the new tablet strengths
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
All Rybelsus strengths (3, 7, 14mg) are being replaced by bioequivalent 1.5, 4 and 9mg tablets. Practices need to switch patients' prescriptions.
General updates
- Heat and PPE: risk of heat stress for staff
Guidance Public health, CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
UKHSA's urgent public health message on the risk of heat stress when wearing PPE in hot weather, with actions for providers and staff.
- New BSol asthma guidelines and formulary changes
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
New BSol asthma guidelines based on NICE NG245 are on the IMOC website. Symbicort 100/3 pMDI is added for over-12s, and Proxor as an alternative to Fostair pMDI.
- NHS.net Connect migration, 3–5 July
News IT, data & cyber security
In brief
BSol practices moved to the new NHS.net Connect email service over the weekend of 3–5 July 2026.
- DHSC national GP engagement on patient data
Have your say IT, data & cyber security
In brief
DHSC's engagement programme asking GPs and practice managers how patient data should be used for care, planning and research.
- Heatwave preparedness for practices (RCGP)
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance, Public health
In brief
The RCGP's summary of heatwave guidance for general practice, with links to key policies.
- Headsmart GP: brain tumour symptom toolkit
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
The Brain Tumour Charity's Headsmart GP toolkit, being piloted in the West Midlands, helps teams spot subtle combinations of brain tumour symptoms.
- Alcohol Awareness Week lunch and learn (Change Grow Live), 6 July
Event Public health Event date: 6 July
In brief
A 45-minute online session from Change Grow Live Birmingham on how people access alcohol support and opportunities for early identification.
- GatewayC: new early cancer diagnosis resources (first in Issue 2)
News Referrals & hospital services
In brief
GatewayC, the NHS-funded early cancer diagnosis resource, regularly publishes new "cancer keys" and courses for primary care.
- Healthcare assistants wanted for the cancer awareness bus
News Workforce & employment
In brief
Paid, flexible HCA roles supporting community health checks and cancer screening uptake on the cancer bus across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.
- Cancer bus tour back in Birmingham (first in Issue 3)
News Public health
In brief
Updated promotional materials for the cancer awareness bus touring Birmingham communities, with dates on the ICB website.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- MenB time-limited vaccination offer: letter and resources
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Documents on the time-limited MenB offer for the year 13 group and eligible students under 25, including a guide for young people.
- Spring COVID-19 campaign ends 30 June; year-round programme from 1 July
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
The spring programme ended on 30 June 2026. The year-round programme uses Comirnaty LP.8.1, with vaccine requested via ICBs. End-of-campaign actions are on FutureNHS.
Safeguarding
- Level 3 adult safeguarding training (online), 23 September
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 23 September
In brief
Virtual level 3 adult safeguarding training for primary care clinicians and safeguarding admins, including how to make good referrals in Birmingham.
- Birmingham Right Help Right Time threshold guidance refreshed
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership has relaunched its Right Help Right Time threshold guidance, with a bulletin on the key changes.
- Child sexual abuse medical examinations: explainer video
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
A 10-minute video from Mountain Healthcare and the CSA Centre explaining what children and families can expect from a SARC examination.
- West Midlands Fire Service Safe and Well referrals
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance, Public health
In brief
Refer people at high fire risk for free home safety visits by firefighters, done by phone or in person.
- Think Family: 7-minute safeguarding briefing
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
A BSol ICB safeguarding team briefing on the Think Family approach for work with adults, children and families.
- Frontline practitioner safeguarding survey (first in Issue 2)
Have your say CQC, regulation & governance Closes: 3 July
In brief
Birmingham and Solihull practices were asked to complete the Solihull Safeguarding Children Partnership survey for all clinical staff by 3 July.
Events and opportunities
- Sarcoma webinar: earlier detection and when to refer, 9 July
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 9 July
In brief
West Midlands Cancer Alliance webinar for GPs and primary care clinicians on sarcoma signs, symptoms and referral.
- Basic life support and AED certification for appraisal, 30 September
Event Workforce & employment Event date: 30 September
In brief
A practical BLS/AED course for GPs, trainees and nurses needing a certificate for appraisal, at the Mercure Birmingham West, subsidised NHS rate.
- Birmingham and Black Country Skin Club: dermatology in skin of colour, 15 July
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 15 July
In brief
An evening of practical dermatology learning and networking over dinner for GPs, nurses and pharmacists.
- Webinar: Pharmacy First referrals from EMIS and SystmOne, 26 June (first in Issue 3)
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 26 June
In brief
How to make electronic referrals to community pharmacy and find reports of rejected referrals, with local good practice.
- GP fellowships in breast care (West Midlands Cancer Alliance) (first in Issue 2)
Have your say Workforce & employment Closes: 6 July
In brief
Six funded GP fellowships, two sessions a week for six months, working with secondary care breast teams.
- GP patient safety (PSIRF) programme: registration open (first in Issue 2)
Have your say CQC, regulation & governance Register by: 7 July
In brief
A July 2026 – March 2027 programme run by Health Innovation Network South London to help practices and PCNs embed the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.
7 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.