ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 1, 4 June 2026
22 items
In this issue
General updates
- Andes virus (hantavirus): updated infection prevention and control guidance
Guidance Public health, CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Updated IPC measures and action cards for contacts and cases of Andes virus (hantavirus) in healthcare settings, also on the NHS England website.
- Letter from the Health Secretary to primary care, 27 May 2026
News Contracts & funding
In brief
A letter to primary care from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, circulated with the brief.
- Prostate cancer screening programme: Q&A for practices
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Following ministers' acceptance of the National Screening Committee's recommendation on prostate screening, a Q&A document has been produced for GP practices.
- West Midlands READY: research training opportunities
News Workforce & employment
In brief
The READY partnership's bulletin of research education and training opportunities for health and care staff in the West Midlands.
- Group clinics vanguards: applications closed 15 June
Have your say PCNs & neighbourhoods, Workforce & employment Closes: 15 June
In brief
NHS England relaunched applications for its Primary and Community Care Vanguards for Group Clinics programme, with a launch recording and EOI pack.
- DHSC survey on primary care research
Have your say Workforce & employment
In brief
DHSC asked primary care staff about barriers to and opportunities for clinical research in general practice, to inform its strategy.
- Birmingham City Council review of early help mental health services for children
Have your say Public health Closes: 28 June
In brief
BCC asked for views on its early help mental health services for children, young people and families, which sit just below CAMHS.
- Recognising substance-related risk in primary care: session recording
Guidance Public health
In brief
Change Grow Live's session on substance-related risk, key substances, brief consultations and when to link in with CGL is available to watch.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- MMR vaccination for practice staff, until 30 September 2026
Guidance Vaccinations & screening, Workforce & employment Action by: 30 September
In brief
Practices may vaccinate eligible staff registered elsewhere with MMR under INT until 30 September 2026. No item of service fee applies, but CNSGP indemnity covers it.
- Webinar: preventing and responding to measles outbreaks, 17 June
Event Vaccinations & screening Event date: 17 June
In brief
National NHS/UKHSA webinar on measles epidemiology, inequalities in uptake and evidence-based approaches to outbreaks.
- Survey on patients' access needs for vaccination services
Have your say Vaccinations & screening Closes: 12 June
In brief
A short survey for GP and pharmacy vaccination teams on patients' access needs, such as wheelchair access, and how providers support them.
- COVID-19 spring campaign: final push
News Vaccinations & screening
In brief
The ICB thanked practices for the spring COVID-19 campaign (47,355 vaccinated so far) and asked for a final push to reach eligible patients.
- Immunisations and vaccination QI forum, 25 June
Event Vaccinations & screening Event date: 25 June
In brief
An online quality improvement forum for general practice on the vaccination programme, 12:30pm on Teams.
- Flu vaccine uptake among frontline healthcare workers, 2025/26
News Vaccinations & screening, Workforce & employment
In brief
A national report on flu vaccine uptake among frontline healthcare workers in the 2025/26 programme.
- Pertussis: updated testing form for primary care
Guidance Public health
In brief
The updated "Testing for pertussis in primary care" form is available in UKHSA's guidance on managing whooping cough.
Safeguarding
- Child Safety Week: accident prevention resources
Guidance Public health
In brief
The Child Accident Prevention Trust's free resources and safety advice to help prevent serious accidents to children.
- James' Place: new service for suicidal men opens in Harborne
Guidance Public health, Referrals & hospital services
In brief
James' Place in Harborne supports men across the West Midlands who are feeling suicidal. It accepts self, family and professional referrals.
- Down's syndrome: baseline dementia screening from age 35
Guidance Public health
In brief
The ICB's learning disabilities team recommends a baseline screening tool for all patients with Down's syndrome from age 35, to help spot early dementia. A Word version is available for clinical systems.
- Free training on non-fatal strangulation
Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 22 July
In brief
IFAS introductory webinars (23 June, 7 July, 22 July) and an online module on recognising and supporting victim-survivors of strangulation.
- West Midlands SARC webinars: referrals and child sexual abuse examinations
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.
Events and opportunities
- Lung cancer screening awareness session, 9 June
Event Vaccinations & screening Event date: 9 June
In brief
A one-hour Project ECHO session on the NHS lung cancer screening programme, aimed at increasing uptake among underserved groups.
- NIHR event: becoming a principal investigator, 18 June
Event Workforce & employment Event date: 18 June
In brief
An NIHR event at Edgbaston Stadium for anyone in the West Midlands who wants to become a research principal investigator.
4 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.