ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 15, 10 September 2026
28 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Clenil Modulite 50 and 250 and Atimos inhalers discontinued: switch patients
Guidance Prescribing & medicines Action by: 15 November
In brief
Stock is expected to run out by mid-November 2026. Review and switch patients to formulary alternatives.
- Ramipril capsules shortage: one month's supply only
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
All strengths of ramipril capsules are short until the end of October 2026. Don't prescribe more than one month at a time.
- Venlafaxine 75mg IR tablets unavailable until November 2026
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Don't start new patients. Follow SPS advice for existing patients.
General updates
- e-Referral Service directory: practices with specialist services must review by 30 September
Guidance Referrals & hospital services Action by: 30 September
In brief
A national standardisation of the e-RS Directory of Services means practices offering specialist services must review their entries.
- Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak: further UKHSA update
News Public health
In brief
The national outbreak investigation has extended to two more subclades.
- NHS App notifications for e-RS referrals from 11 September
News Referrals & hospital services, IT, data & cyber security
In brief
Patients will get automatic NHS App notifications about GP-to-provider referrals made through e-RS.
- Child Death Review Team newsletter: ICON Week focus
News CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
The latest Child Death Review newsletter, focusing on ICON Week 2026.
- Survey: semen analysis results in primary care
Have your say Referrals & hospital services
In brief
The Centre for Human Reproductive Science wants GPs' experience of interpreting and explaining semen analysis results.
- 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.
- Penicillin vs penicillamine allergy recording: review by 20 November (first in Issue 13)
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.
- Cancer bus touring Birmingham in September (first in Issue 13)
News Public health
In brief
Updated promotional materials for the cancer awareness bus visiting Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull.
Place updates
- Being a Parent parenting groups in Birmingham
Guidance Public health
In brief
Free parenting groups from pregnancy to school age that patients can be signposted to.
- Doddington Children's Centre sessions
Guidance Public health
In brief
Free early years, infant feeding and parenting sessions through September and October.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- Seasonal vaccination updates: flu, RSV and prioritising vaccine types
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Flu vaccination is open for children and pregnant women, RSV eligibility has expanded, and UKHSA has updated guidance on prioritising vaccines by age.
- Vaccination standards and RSV technical requirements updated
Guidance Vaccinations & screening, Contracts & funding
In brief
Contract guidance is updated for expanded RSV eligibility, pneumococcal for people experiencing homelessness, and MMRV.
- Flu vaccines 2026/27: cohorts and recommended vaccines
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
UKHSA's updated guide to which flu vaccines are recommended for each eligible group.
- Egg-cultured flu vaccine: only when first-line vaccines are unavailable
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Vaxigrip (egg-cultured) should only be used when recommended first-line vaccines aren't available, given Sanofi's recombinant vaccine supply problems.
- Keep Your Vaccines Healthy: updated cold chain resources
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
The redesigned cold chain poster and magnet are available to download.
Safeguarding
- Stop Loan Sharks newsletter
News Public health
In brief
The Illegal Money Lending Team's newsletter, with grants for community awareness projects.
- Engaging and supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Safeguarding guidance on reducing barriers to services for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and families.
- Pre-birth safeguarding: preconception health and alcohol webinar, 16 October
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 16 October
In brief
A free OHID and NHS England webinar for general practice staff.
- Non-fatal strangulation: updated 7-minute briefing (first in Issue 7)
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
BSol ICB's updated briefing on non-fatal strangulation, a strong predictor of homicide, including the new IFAS guidance for under-16s.
Events and opportunities
- Basic life support and AED certification for appraisal, 30 September (first in Issue 4)
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.
- Skin Club: "Skin: What Not to Miss", 30 September
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 30 September
In brief
A free dermatology evening for primary care clinicians at the Mercure Birmingham West.
- Preconception health and alcohol: online spotlight, 16 September (first in Issue 13)
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 (first in Issue 13)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 30 September
In brief
An introduction to Stop It Now! and practical approaches to preventing child sexual abuse.
- 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.
- 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.
12 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.