ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 5, 2 July 2026
30 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Mucogel (co-magaldrox) oral suspension discontinued
Guidance Prescribing & medicines
In brief
Mucogel sugar-free suspension has been discontinued, and there's no other magnesium/aluminium hydroxide combination. Use alternative antacids per the formulary and SPS tool.
General updates
- Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag must be in place by 30 September 2026
Guidance IT, data & cyber security, CQC, regulation & governance Action by: 30 September
In brief
The Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag is a mandatory national standard that all NHS and publicly funded services must fully implement by 30 September 2026.
- ICE system issue fixed (BSol practices)
News IT, data & cyber security
In brief
An ICE update caused a service issue. MLCSU rolled out an ICE ScriptX component fix and continued to monitor.
- Urgent treatment centres and GP out-of-hours review: consultation update
News Referrals & hospital services
In brief
The BSol consultation on the future of UTCs and GP out-of-hours services has closed, and the feedback is being independently analysed.
- ThinPrep cervical samples: do not refrigerate
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Despite social media suggestions during hot weather, ThinPrep vials must not be stored in the fridge.
- GP patient safety (PSIRF) programme: registration open (first in Issue 2)
Have your say CQC, regulation & governance Register by: 7 July
In brief
A July 2026 – March 2027 programme run by Health Innovation Network South London to help practices and PCNs embed the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.
- Dementia UK online summer school (July)
Event Public health
In brief
A free four-day online summer school on dementia care for health and social care staff.
- Sepsis Awareness Month: free resource packs
Guidance Public health
In brief
The UK Sepsis Trust offers free packs for practices, including Sepsis 6 cards, symptom leaflets and posters.
- 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.
- Self-request chest X-ray pilot (East locality): GP webinar, 14 July
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 14 July
In brief
East locality GPs were invited to a webinar on the self-request chest X-ray pilot at Washwood Heath CDC, which launched 3 August 2026.
- Child medical neglect pathway and toolkit webinar, 10 July
Event CQC, regulation & governance Event date: 10 July
In brief
An introduction to the new multi-agency Child Medical Neglect Assessment Pathway and Practitioner Toolkit for Birmingham and Solihull.
- NHS.net Connect migration, 3–5 July (first in Issue 4)
News IT, data & cyber security
In brief
BSol practices moved to the new NHS.net Connect email service over the weekend of 3–5 July 2026.
- Cancer bus tour back in Birmingham (first in Issue 3)
News Public health
In brief
Updated promotional materials for the cancer awareness bus touring Birmingham communities, with dates on the ICB website.
Place updates
- Free Barnardo's autism training for professionals in Birmingham
Event Public health
In brief
An eight-session Barnardo's Cygnet course for professionals supporting parents and carers of children with autism in Birmingham.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- MMR/V catch-up campaign 2026/27: a GP contract requirement
Guidance Vaccinations & screening, Contracts & funding
In brief
The 2026/27 national catch-up campaign, which practices must take part in under the GP contract, focuses on MMR/V following measles outbreaks.
- Childhood vaccine schedule change: early uptake data
News Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Early data shows good uptake of MMRV and earlier MenB protection for babies, but a persistent gap in measles coverage across England.
- NHS travel vaccinations: what practices must offer free
Guidance Vaccinations & screening, Contracts & funding
In brief
Practices must offer polio (as dT/IPV), typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera free as part of the core contract. The CQC reiterates this.
- COVID-19 autumn/winter 2026 programme: 1 October – 31 January
Guidance Vaccinations & screening Starts: 1 October
In brief
The autumn/winter COVID-19 programme runs alongside flu from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, with the same eligible cohorts as last year, including adults 75+ and care home residents.
- COVID-19 and flu enhanced service sign-up: by 31 July
Have your say Vaccinations & screening Sign up by: 31 July
In brief
Practices needed to sign up on CQRS by 31 July 2026 and give planning assumptions for vaccine numbers.
Safeguarding
- Professional curiosity: 7-minute safeguarding briefing
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
A BSol ICB safeguarding briefing on using professional curiosity in every contact with adults, children and families.
- Depression Research and Advice Clinic: patient leaflet and waiting room video
Guidance Referrals & hospital services
In brief
A patient information sheet and short waiting room video encouraging patients to come forward to, or self-refer to, the DRAC.
- "Com" online groups: safeguarding risk to young people
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Com groups are online networks involved in child sexual abuse, cybercrime and coercion, recruiting vulnerable young people. Be alert to signs.
- Level 3 children's safeguarding training (online), 17 September
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.
- 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.
- Frontline practitioner safeguarding survey (first in Issue 2)
Have your say CQC, regulation & governance Closes: 3 July
In brief
Birmingham and Solihull practices were asked to complete the Solihull Safeguarding Children Partnership survey for all clinical staff by 3 July.
Events and opportunities
- Alcohol Awareness Week lunch and learn (Change Grow Live), 6 July (first in Issue 4)
Event Public health Event date: 6 July
In brief
A 45-minute online session from Change Grow Live Birmingham on how people access alcohol support and opportunities for early identification.
- Sarcoma webinar: earlier detection and when to refer, 9 July (first in Issue 4)
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 9 July
In brief
West Midlands Cancer Alliance webinar for GPs and primary care clinicians on sarcoma signs, symptoms and referral.
- 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.
- Birmingham and Black Country Skin Club: dermatology in skin of colour, 15 July (first in Issue 4)
Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 15 July
In brief
An evening of practical dermatology learning and networking over dinner for GPs, nurses and pharmacists.
- GP fellowships in breast care (West Midlands Cancer Alliance) (first in Issue 2)
Have your say Workforce & employment Closes: 6 July
In brief
Six funded GP fellowships, two sessions a week for six months, working with secondary care breast teams.
7 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.