ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 9, 30 July 2026
23 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Proton pump inhibitors in children: new BSol prescribing guidance
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
BSol IMOC guidance (June 2026): lansoprazole is first-line, using orodispersible tablets for those who can't swallow. Omeprazole liquid is no longer routinely recommended.
- Nifedipine MR tablets: shortages across brands and strengths
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Tensipine, Dexipress and Adalat LA strengths face supply issues through late 2026. Check the SPS tool for alternatives.
- Betnesol-N ear/eye/nose drops unavailable until January 2027
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Don't start new patients. Consider the alternatives listed in the SPS Medicines Supply Tool.
- Silkis (calcitriol) ointment discontinued 31 August 2026
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Don't start new patients. Consider alternative topical vitamin D preparations for plaque psoriasis.
- Hyoscine butylbromide 20mg/1ml injection: limited supply
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Limited until about 4 September 2026. Stock ringfenced for primary care palliative use can be ordered as described in the SPS tool.
General updates
- Maternity self-referral portal: practices can refer on patients' behalf
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
Pregnant women in BSol can self-refer for maternity care through the single point of access. Practices can submit referrals for those who can't.
- Shared Care Record: digital ReSPECT plans and the end-of-life tab
News IT, data & cyber security
In brief
960 digital ReSPECT plans have been created in the BSol Shared Care Record since January, 451 of them in primary care.
- Learning disability annual health checks: new video to boost uptake
Guidance Public health
In brief
A system-wide video with families and people with lived experience, to help practices increase uptake of annual health checks (age 14+).
- Baby and Me: perinatal mental health drop-ins in Birmingham Family Hubs
Guidance Public health
In brief
Weekly emotional wellbeing drop-ins for expectant parents and parents of babies up to 2, with no referral needed.
- UHB cortisol reports: new interpretive comment from 3 August
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
The comment on UHB cortisol reports now states expected early morning values (102–535 nmol/L). The assay, reference range and thresholds are unchanged.
- 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.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- Seasonal vaccination 2026/27: sign up by 31 July
Have your say Vaccinations & screening Sign up by: 31 July
In brief
Practices not yet signed up to the autumn/winter COVID-19 and flu services needed to accept both offers on CQRS by 31 July.
- Flu: invitation letter template for at-risk patients and carers
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Under 40% of at-risk and immunosuppressed people across the cluster had flu vaccine in 2025. A GOV.UK letter template and toolkit help practices invite them.
- Children's flu 2026/27: which vaccine poster
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
A GOV.UK poster showing which flu vaccine each child and young person should get, and who is eligible.
- Co-administering vaccines in adults 65+: training slides
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
UKHSA slides on which routine vaccines can and can't be given together in older adults, and the principles behind co-administration.
- Autumn/winter 2026/27 flu uptake ambitions
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
NHS England has set ICBs significant uptake growth targets across most cohorts. Practices should review how they identify, invite and follow up eligible patients.
Safeguarding
- Intersectionality in domestic abuse: 7-minute briefing
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
How overlapping identities such as race, disability and immigration status create extra barriers for domestic abuse survivors.
Events and opportunities
- Physical activity clinical champions: obesity and GLP-1 session, 5 August (first in Issue 8)
Event Public health Event date: 5 August
In brief
A free one-hour PACC session on living with obesity, its health impacts and the role of physical activity alongside GLP-1 treatment.
- Physical activity clinical champions: children and young people session, 18 August (first in Issue 8)
Event Public health Event date: 18 August
In brief
A free virtual PACC session on the evidence for physical activity in children and young people.
- Championing Movement for Health conference, 24 September (first in Issue 8)
Event Public health Event date: 24 September
In brief
A Birmingham Physical Activity Clinical Champions conference at St Andrew's on making physical activity part of routine care.
- Level 3 children's safeguarding training (online), 17 September (first in Issue 5)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 17 September
In brief
Virtual level 3 children's safeguarding training for primary care, covering RCGP requirements and local pathways.
- Level 3 adult safeguarding training (online), 23 September (first in Issue 4)
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.
- West Midlands SARC webinars: referrals and child sexual abuse examinations (first in Issue 1)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 8 February
In brief
A series of webinars on when and how to refer to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre and what child sexual abuse medical examinations involve. Sessions run until February 2027.
19 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.