ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 13, 27 August 2026
27 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Palliative care drugs: bank holiday supply poster (first in Issue 12)
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
A poster listing community pharmacies stocking specialist palliative care drugs over bank holidays is in the BSol Medicines Management Hub.
General updates
- Penicillin vs penicillamine allergy recording: review by 20 November
Guidance Prescribing & medicines, CQC, regulation & governance Action by: 20 November
In brief
Run the ICB's EMIS search for patients recorded as penicillamine-allergic who may actually be penicillin-allergic, and review each record (TPP search to follow). It's a National Patient Safety Alert, so CQC may act if it's not done.
- Community pharmacy hypertension case-finding: referral changes from 3 September
Guidance Referrals & hospital services Takes effect: 3 September
In brief
From 3 September, practices can only refer patients without a hypertension diagnosis who haven't had a BP check in 5 years. ABPM is for adults aged 40+.
- Possible fentanyl contamination in BSol drug supply
Guidance Public health
In brief
A person who injects drugs in Castle Vale tested positive for fentanyl. Be alert to overdose risk and naloxone needs.
- HPV self-testing launched in cervical screening
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Invitation-only HPV self-test kits for people aged 30–65 who haven't attended screening, rolled out in phases.
- ICON Week, 21–25 September: preventing abusive head trauma in babies
Guidance Public health
In brief
Resources to help parents cope with infant crying and prevent abusive head trauma.
- Prostate cancer: when family history should prompt assessment
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
A DHSC letter on handling patient questions about PSA testing and family history as prostate screening develops.
- SEND education event (BSol), 9 September
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 9 September
In brief
A lunchtime session on Education, Health and Care Plans, the tribunal process and the GP role in SEND.
- Lexi's Letter webinar: communicating with young patients, 15 October
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 15 October
In brief
A one-hour webinar on Lexi's Letter and the patient voice in communicating with children and young people.
- Cancer bus touring Birmingham in September
News Public health
In brief
Updated promotional materials for the cancer awareness bus visiting Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull.
Place updates
- Thrive social prescribing open day, Kings Heath Park, 2 October
Event Public health Event date: 2 October
In brief
An open day for primary care teams and link workers on how social and therapeutic horticulture can support patients.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- Children's flu 2026/27: opt in on CQRS
Have your say Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Sign-up is open for the childhood flu programme. GP providers opt in through CQRS.
- Publish flu appointments on MYA so pregnant women can book from 1 September
Guidance Vaccinations & screening Action by: 1 September
In brief
Practices using the National Booking Service should publish adult and children's flu appointments in Manage Your Appointments from 1 September.
- Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 July 2026
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
UKHSA's full routine schedule from 1 July 2026, including the updated RSV cohort.
- Visual guide to vaccines updated
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Pictures of vaccine products and packaging to go with the routine schedule, updated for the removal of Menitorix from the infant schedule.
- UKHSA survey of immunisation training providers
Have your say Vaccinations & screening, Workforce & employment Closes: 31 August
In brief
UKHSA surveyed how staff gain the knowledge required by the national immunisation training standards.
Safeguarding
- Private fostering in Birmingham: help identify children
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Birmingham Children's Trust asks health professionals to spot and report children who may be living in private fostering arrangements.
- Birmingham Safeguarding Adults practitioner forum: adults at risk of fire, 16 September
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 16 September
In brief
An in-person BSAB forum at West Midlands Fire Service on safeguarding adults at risk of fire.
- James' Place: information session on support for suicidal men, 9 September
Event Public health Event date: 9 September
In brief
A free virtual session on James' Place's therapy for men in suicidal crisis, supported by the BSol Training Hub.
- Com networks: a high safeguarding concern
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Online "Com" networks are involved in grooming, sextortion and extreme violence, and are drawing in young people. Training dates are included.
Events and opportunities
- Preconception health and alcohol: online spotlight, 16 September
Event Public health Event date: 16 September
In brief
An OHID and NHS England session on preconception health and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
- Preventing child sexual abuse: Lucy Faithfull Foundation session, 30 September
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 30 September
In brief
An introduction to Stop It Now! and practical approaches to preventing child sexual abuse.
- NSPCC: recognising and responding to child sexual abuse (first in Issue 12)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 22 September
In brief
NSPCC sessions on spotting signs of hidden child sexual abuse, with an updated statistics briefing.
- BSol GP cancer education webinar, 8 September (first in Issue 12)
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 8 September
In brief
The latest cancer pathways and initiatives for primary care, chaired by Dr Kulbir Tajuria.
- West Midlands SARC webinar, 10 November (first in Issue 12)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 10 November
In brief
When and how to refer to the SARC, child sexual abuse examinations, and support from Black Country Women's Aid.
- Capsule sponge webinar (West Midlands Cancer Alliance), 15 September (first in Issue 10)
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.
- Prostate Cancer UK webinar: early detection and Black health equity, 24 September (first in Issue 10)
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 24 September
In brief
A lunchtime webinar on prostate cancer early detection and inequalities in the West Midlands.
15 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.