ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 20, 15 October 2026
29 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Medicines management: ketone strip safety alert, four shortages, new BSol COPD guidelines
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
This week's medicines updates: a National Patient Safety Alert on StatStrip blood ketone test strip supply; shortages of lacidipine, Elvanse (lisdexamfetamine) 60mg and 70mg, and sugar-free Ventolin syrup; new BSol COPD guidelines; and prescribing of oral semaglutide.
General updates
- UKHSA briefing: Klebsiella aerogenes folliculitis case in England
Guidance Public health
In brief
A confirmed case in England of recurrent facial folliculitis from a Klebsiella aerogenes clone circulating internationally, mainly among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
- UKHSA briefing: Ebola (Bundibugyo virus) outbreak in the DRC and a confirmed case in Kenya
Guidance Public health
In brief
Consider Ebola in unwell patients who travelled to the DRC, Kenya or other at-risk countries, or had contact with a suspected case, within 21 days before illness.
- Cervical screening: Mobile Health Hub and Mobile Screening Unit visiting communities
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
A Mobile Screening Unit continues across Birmingham and Solihull, and a new Mobile Health Hub tours the Black Country from 15 October, giving eligible people another way to attend cervical screening.
- One Health and Care shared care record: patient survey closes 20 November
Have your say IT, data & cyber security Closes: 20 November
In brief
Patients registered in the Black Country and West Birmingham are asked their views on the One Health and Care shared record and how their data is used for planning. The survey closes on 20 November.
- BCHC confirmed as future GP IT provider for Birmingham and Solihull
News IT, data & cyber security
In brief
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's board has approved it becoming the GP IT service provider for Birmingham and Solihull, following last week's news on services moving from MLCSU.
- Elective Single Point of Access and e-RS: what it means for practices
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
National SPoA guidance confirms GPs keep referral decisions and there is no referral-diversion target. Keep using e-RS and existing specialties and clinic types; the new e-RS specialties switch over on 4 December.
- e-RS fault: Clinical Information Summary PDFs from SystmOne and EMIS (9–12 October)
News Referrals & hospital services, IT, data & cyber security
In brief
Referrals created between 9 October (23:51) and 12 October could not be downloaded as PDFs by providers. The fix doesn't correct those referrals, so providers may ask you to resend the information.
- Survey: semen analysis results in primary care (first in Issue 15)
Have your say Referrals & hospital services
In brief
Birmingham Women's and Children's wants feedback from GPs and patients on how semen analysis results are presented and communicated.
- GatewayC: new cancer keys on breast pain and breast cancer symptoms
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
Two new short GatewayC learning resources: whether breast pain is a symptom of breast cancer, and breast cancer symptoms beyond a lump.
- 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.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- Flu resources toolkit for 2026/27
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
A cluster toolkit of social media posts, graphics, videos and links to national resources to promote flu vaccination to eligible groups.
- Flu activity low but higher than in the previous four winters
News Vaccinations & screening
In brief
UKHSA surveillance shows flu activity higher than at this point in each of the last four seasons, with signs of an early season, and COVID-19 is also rising. Keep promoting vaccination.
- Flu and pneumococcal vaccines for people experiencing homelessness: who you can vaccinate
Guidance Vaccinations & screening, Contracts & funding
In brief
People experiencing homelessness aged 16 and over are now an at-risk group. Practices on the flu enhanced service can vaccinate them whether registered or not; pneumococcal only if registered with the practice.
- UKHSA webinar: vaccination for people experiencing homelessness, 27 October (first in Issue 18)
Event Vaccinations & screening Event date: 27 October
In brief
UKHSA launches a toolkit and materials to improve vaccination uptake among people experiencing homelessness.
- MMRV catch-up payments: manual CQRS adjustment for 6-year-olds in November and December
Guidance Vaccinations & screening, Contracts & funding
In brief
Automated MMRV catch-up payments in November and December only cover children aged 5 and under. If you vaccinate 6-year-olds, add them to your CQRS total manually.
- COVID-19 vaccination consent forms for care home residents
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Three cluster consent forms for care home residents: for residents who can consent, for relatives where a resident can't, and for attorneys.
Safeguarding
- Free training on technology-facilitated domestic abuse (Refuge) (first in Issue 17)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 11 February
In brief
Free one-hour virtual sessions from Refuge for practice staff. The next session, on 25 November, covers helping survivors use digital services safely.
Campaigns
- Survey of Carers: pilot open to carers in Birmingham and Solihull
Have your say Public health
In brief
A University of Birmingham pilot asking unpaid carers what would make the biggest difference to their lives. It's anonymous, and open in Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley and Sandwell. A promotional toolkit is available.
Events and opportunities
- Free tickets for NHS frontline clinical staff: George Michael film screening, 2 November
Have your say Wellbeing & support Closes: 20 October
In brief
Frontline clinical staff can apply for two free tickets to a pre-screening of George Michael: The Faith Tour at the Roundhouse, London. Apply by 5pm on 20 October.
- Free autism training for practice staff in Selly Oak (Oliver McGowan autism component)
Event Workforce & employment Last session: 22 January
In brief
Face-to-face day from Resources for Autism for clinical and non-clinical staff. Counts towards the autism part of Oliver McGowan training. Dates from 19 November to 22 January.
- GP role: Community Respiratory Pathways at UHB, apply by 20 October
Have your say Workforce & employment Closes: 20 October
In brief
University Hospitals Birmingham is recruiting a GP for its community respiratory pathways. Applications close on 20 October.
- Webinar: genomics and rare cancers, 27 October
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 27 October
In brief
Central and South Genomics explain when genomic testing may be needed for rare cancers and how to talk to patients about it.
- Webinar: supporting patients through genomic testing, 4 December
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 4 December
In brief
Launch of patient materials co-created with patient experts to help people through genomic testing. Open to everyone.
- Cyber security webinars for primary care, 4 and 24 November (first in Issue 18)
Event IT, data & cyber security Last session: 24 November
In brief
Free NHS England and City of London Police webinars on current cyber threats, simple protective steps and the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.
- Sight loss awareness training (first in Issue 17)
Event Workforce & employment
In brief
Training for patient-facing staff on supporting patients who are blind or have sight loss.
- Possibilities Beyond Limits leadership programme: apply by 28 October (first in Issue 17)
Have your say Workforce & employment Closes: 28 October
In brief
A programme to help underrepresented staff (Black, Asian, ethnically diverse, disabled and neurodiverse) reach band 8a+ leadership roles.
- Cancer care review training for practice nurses, 9 and 16 November (first in Issue 16)
Event Workforce & employment Last session: 16 November
In brief
A two-day course from Coventry and Warwickshire ICB, open to practice nurses across the West Midlands.
- South Asian Health Foundation conference, Birmingham, 26–27 November (first in Issue 17)
Event Workforce & employment Event date: 26 November
In brief
Managing complexity: diabetes, multimorbidity and frailty, at the NCC Birmingham.
11 items for other places (Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Solihull and the Black Country) are not shown.