28 items

Medicines Management updates

1. Levemir discontinuation: remaining actions

   Guidance Prescribing & medicines Action by: 30 November

   In brief

   All Levemir products are being discontinued, and stock may run out before December 2026. Switch remaining patients to a suitable alternative as soon as possible.

2. Palliative and end of life care education day, 2 October

   Event Public health Event date: 2 October

   In brief

   A full-day in-person education event at Marie Curie Hospice, Solihull.

General updates

1. Enterovirus meningitis clusters in nurseries (West Midlands)

   News Public health

   In brief

   UKHSA reports clusters of viral meningitis linked to nurseries in the Black Country and Staffordshire, plus a general rise in cases.

2. QOF obesity indicators OB004 and OB005: NHS England FAQs

   Guidance Contracts & funding, Prescribing & medicines

   In brief

   NHS England's FAQs on implementing the 2026/27 QOF weight management indicators.

3. Game of Stones: free weight loss support for adults with type 2 diabetes

   Guidance Public health, Referrals & hospital services

   In brief

   A free, 12-month, evidence-based community programme across Birmingham to help adults with type 2 diabetes lose weight.

4. Register your practice with Learning from Patient Safety Events (LFPSE)

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance, Contracts & funding

   In brief

   The new GP contract requires every practice to register with the national LFPSE system. A step-by-step guide is attached.

5. UHB pathology: please return unused Indexor racks

   Guidance Referrals & hospital services

   In brief

   UHB is short of Indexor sample racks. Return unused racks and lids via the pathology driver.

6. GP fit note reform programme: thanks for expressions of interest

   News PCNs & neighbourhoods, Workforce & employment

   In brief

   The WorkWell team thanked localities for their strong response to the fit note reform pilot.

7. 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.

8. Walk-in blood tests for South Birmingham and Solihull patients (reminder)

   Guidance Referrals & hospital services

   In brief

   InHealth runs appointment-free phlebotomy at Chelmsley Wood and another CDC site for registered patients aged 16+ from South Birmingham and Solihull practices.

Immunisations and vaccinations

1. MenB pharmacy finder for signposting eligible young people

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   A "Find a MenB pharmacy" tool helps practices signpost eligible young people to participating pharmacies.

2. Vaccine update: adolescent MenB, measles and flu

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   UKHSA's latest update covering JCVI's adolescent MenB recommendation, webinar recordings, flu 2026/27 and vaccine supply.

3. MMRV vaccination: easy read information

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   Easy read information on the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

4. RSV: vaccine group direction and PGD templates, training slides

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   Templates and training slides supporting the RSV programmes for pregnant women and older adults.

5. Host a research visit: new "My Vaccines" check and book service

   Have your say Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   Vaccination Digital Services wanted a few practices to host visits to gather feedback on a private beta booking service.

Safeguarding

1. Exploitation audit: offer a holistic health review

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance

   In brief

   When notified that a child or adult is involved in exploitation, follow the pathway and proactively offer a holistic health review.

2. Prescribing for breastfeeding mothers: learning from a rapid review

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance, Prescribing & medicines

   In brief

   Always check the BNF for effects on the baby through breast milk, and consider sedative effects on the mother, especially if she co-sleeps.

3. FGM enhanced dataset: changes from 1 October 2026

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance Takes effect: 1 October

   In brief

   Changes to the FGM Enhanced Dataset and the Clinical Audit Platform following NHS England's consultation.

4. FGM-IS flag on patient records: what it means

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance

   In brief

   The FGM Information Sharing flag is a prompt for professional curiosity about family history and context when making care and safeguarding decisions.

5. FGM assessments: only appropriately competent clinicians

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance

   In brief

   NHS guidance clarifies that only clinicians with the right skills should carry out child protection assessments for FGM.

Events and opportunities

1. Family Health Day in Selly Oak (B29), 13 August

   Event Public health Event date: 13 August

   In brief

   A free family health and wellbeing day hosted by the Family Wellbeing Zone.

2. Capsule sponge webinar (West Midlands Cancer Alliance), 15 September

   Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 15 September

   In brief

   How the capsule sponge test can help detect Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal cancer earlier.

3. Prostate Cancer UK webinar: early detection and Black health equity, 24 September

   Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 24 September

   In brief

   A lunchtime webinar on prostate cancer early detection and inequalities in the West Midlands.

4. Free Breastfeeding for Physicians CPD (970 funded places)

   Event Public health Closes: 13 March

   In brief

   Birmingham City Council has funded free Breastfeeding Network CPD places for GP practice staff.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

11 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.