31 items

Medicines Management updates

1. Oral semaglutide: Wegovy tablets licensed, but not commissioned locally

   Guidance Prescribing & medicines

   In brief

   Wegovy tablets were licensed for weight management in June 2026, but aren't commissioned for NHS prescribing in BSol or the Black Country. Rybelsus is for type 2 diabetes only.

2. Levemir discontinuation: remaining actions (first in Issue 10)

   Guidance Prescribing & medicines Action by: 30 November

   In brief

   All Levemir products are being discontinued, and stock may run out before December 2026. Switch remaining patients to a suitable alternative as soon as possible.

3. Fostair 200/6 inhalers supplied without a dose counter

   Guidance Prescribing & medicines

   In brief

   Some batches have no dose counter. Tell patients how to track doses and when to replace the inhaler.

4. Pravastatin 10mg and 20mg shortage

   Guidance Prescribing & medicines

   In brief

   Short until about 20 November 2026. Options include half of a higher-strength tablet, or another statin.

5. Lansoprazole orodispersible tablets: shortage and serious shortage protocols

   Guidance Prescribing & medicines

   In brief

   Lansoprazole 15mg and 30mg ODTs are short until January 2027. DHSC has issued two serious shortage protocols.

General updates

1. Accurx messages now go to the NHS App first

   News IT, data & cyber security

   In brief

   Individual Accurx messages now go via the NHS App when the patient has it installed with notifications on.

2. Direct-to-test asthma diagnosis for children (Washwood Heath)

   Guidance Referrals & hospital services

   In brief

   BSol GPs can now refer children and young people directly for asthma diagnostic tests at Washwood Heath Community Diagnostic Centre.

3. Study on continuity of care and access systems

   Have your say Workforce & employment

   In brief

   The University of Bristol wants one staff member from every UK practice for a study on continuity and access.

4. 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.

5. e-Referral Service directory: practices with specialist services must review by 30 September (first in Issue 15)

   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.

6. 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.

7. 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

1. Memory Matters: earlier dementia diagnosis in Birmingham

   Guidance Public health

   In brief

   A BSMHFT, Age Connects and Alzheimer's Society programme promoting brain health and earlier diagnosis, funded until 2028.

2. Carry on Caring group for unpaid carers in South Birmingham

   Guidance Public health

   In brief

   A local support network that practices can signpost unpaid carers to.

3. Falls prevention: free local pathway

   Guidance Public health

   In brief

   For Falls Prevention Awareness Week (21–25 September), a reminder of the free local falls prevention pathway for adults who've had a fall.

Immunisations and vaccinations

1. Only around half of primary school children had flu vaccine last year

   News Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   UKHSA urged parents to return consent forms as school flu vaccination began. Uptake was 55.5% last winter.

2. Vaccine Update 375: flu special 2026

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   UKHSA's flu special edition of Vaccine Update.

3. Pneumococcal vaccination for older adults and risk groups: updated guidance

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening

   In brief

   Practitioner guidance now includes people experiencing homelessness as a risk group from 1 October 2026.

4. Seasonal enhanced service amended: RAVS for PCN-collaborating practices

   Guidance Vaccinations & screening, PCNs & neighbourhoods

   In brief

   The GP seasonal vaccination specification now allows practices collaborating under the PCN DES to use the Record a Vaccination Service.

Safeguarding

1. Child protection and FGM information on the BCHC website

   Guidance CQC, regulation & governance

   In brief

   Birmingham Community Healthcare has published assessment and referral information for child protection and FGM.

Campaigns

1. Organ Donation Week, 21–27 September

   Guidance Public health

   In brief

   Resources to encourage patients to record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Events and opportunities

1. Nominate staff for a Government thank-you reception

   Have your say Workforce & employment

   In brief

   DHSC asked for nominations of NHS staff who deserve to attend events such as a No. 10 reception.

2. EMIS winter pressures webinars, 20 and 22 October

   Event IT, data & cyber security Event date: 20 October

   In brief

   Optum/EMIS webinars on capacity planning, slot creation and reporting ahead of winter.

3. Making Research Count webinars on social care, 6 and 15 October

   Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 15 October

   In brief

   Webinars on intergenerational trauma from gender-based violence, and on "cuckooing" in domestic abuse.

4. Obstetric medicine study day (West Midlands Maternal Medicine Network)

   Event Referrals & hospital services

   In brief

   A study day on obstetric medicine for anyone who sees pregnant patients.

5. Cancer care review training for practice nurses, 9 and 16 November

   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.

6. 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.

7. Skin Club: "Skin: What Not to Miss", 30 September (first in Issue 15)

   Event Referrals & hospital services Event date: 30 September

   In brief

   A free dermatology evening for primary care clinicians at the Mercure Birmingham West.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

9 items for other places (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Solihull and the Black Country) or of no relevance to Birmingham practices are not shown.