ICB · Primary Care Brief
ICB Primary Care Brief – Issue 17, 24 September 2026
34 items
In this issue
Medicines Management updates
- Oral semaglutide: Wegovy tablets licensed, but not commissioned locally (first in Issue 16)
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.
General updates
- New Community Outbreak Response Service across BSol and the Black Country
Guidance Public health Starts: 21 September
In brief
From 21 September 2026, a single commissioned service coordinates community outbreak responses across both ICBs.
- New cluster ICB service change policy
News CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
A policy setting out how NHS service changes are planned and delivered across the cluster.
- Possibilities Beyond Limits leadership programme: apply by 28 October
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.
- Multi-cancer blood test research: GP practices wanted
Have your say Referrals & hospital services Closes: 27 October
In brief
A University of Birmingham study of multi-cancer blood tests for patients with vague symptoms. Practices are invited to take part.
- ICON Week webinars on infant crying
Guidance Public health
In brief
ICON's webinar series on supporting families and understanding infant crying, with recordings to follow.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Birmingham Connect to Support: community directory
Guidance Public health
In brief
An online directory of local services, equipment and advice for Birmingham residents.
- Memory Matters marketplace at Alexander Stadium, 14 October
Event Public health Event date: 14 October
In brief
A drop-in community event on brain health and dementia support services.
- Families First Partnership induction for Hodge Hill practices
Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 13 October
In brief
Birmingham Children's Trust induction sessions for GP practices covering Hodge Hill, the pilot district.
Immunisations and vaccinations
- Vaccinating people with uncertain or incomplete immunisation history (first in Issue 2)
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
UKHSA's summary for practitioners, with a new supporting guidance document.
- COVID-19 vaccine PGD and VGD (5 years and over)
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
PGD and VGD templates for the COVID-19 programme.
- COVID-19 Green Book chapter updated
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
The COVID-19 chapter is updated with current vaccines, JCVI advice, storage and dosing.
- COVID-19 autumn 2026: patient leaflet and stickers
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
An updated patient leaflet and stickers for the autumn 2026 programme.
- Flu vaccination in social care: updated leaflets and poster
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
Updated guides and a new poster for social care staff and providers.
- Selective MMRV catch-up: 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028
Guidance Vaccinations & screening Starts: 1 November
In brief
Practices should deliver a one-dose MMRV selective catch-up to eligible children, as clinic capacity allows.
- Webinar: responding to measles outbreaks, local learning, 25 September
Event Vaccinations & screening Event date: 25 September
In brief
How Birmingham and Solihull and Enfield responded to measles outbreaks, and lessons for improving uptake.
- Housebound COVID-19 vaccinations by BCHC: sign up (BSol practices)
Guidance Vaccinations & screening
In brief
BCHC can vaccinate housebound patients for all BSol practices that sign up for autumn/winter 2026.
Safeguarding
- Free training on technology-facilitated domestic abuse (Refuge)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 11 February
In brief
Three free virtual sessions for general practice staff on digital and tech-facilitated abuse.
- "Can they care for me, am I safe?": BSCP webinar recording
Guidance CQC, regulation & governance
In brief
Recording and slides of the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Partnership webinar.
- Webinar: suicide in people with severe mental illness, 8 October
Event Public health Event date: 8 October
In brief
An NHS England webinar on the new report on suicide in people with severe mental health problems.
Campaigns
- Organ Donation Week, 21–27 September (first in Issue 16)
Guidance Public health
In brief
Resources to encourage patients to record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Events and opportunities
- Sight loss awareness training
Event Workforce & employment
In brief
Training for patient-facing staff on supporting patients who are blind or partially sighted.
- South Asian Health Foundation conference, Birmingham, 26–27 November
Event Workforce & employment Event date: 26 November
In brief
The SAHF annual conference on diabetes, multimorbidity and frailty at the ICC/NCC.
- 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 (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.
- 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.
- Making Research Count webinars on social care, 6 and 15 October (first in Issue 16)
Event CQC, regulation & governance Last session: 15 October
In brief
Webinars on intergenerational trauma from gender-based violence, and on "cuckooing" in domestic abuse.
- EMIS winter pressures webinars, 20 and 22 October (first in Issue 16)
Event IT, data & cyber security Event date: 20 October
In brief
Optum/EMIS webinars on capacity planning, slot creation and reporting ahead of winter.
- 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.
- 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.