Reports are being received from around the country that NHS 111 is inappropriately sending patients to general practice for suspected coronavirus assessment/testing. If you experience any instances of this please could you provide chapter and verse evidence to the LMC in order that we can escalate the matter nationally via GPC.
I would remind everyone of the recent CCG guidance (copied below and attached) guidance on the BMA website which is updated regularly:
https://www.bma.org.uk/collective-voice/policy-and-research/public-and-population-health/wuhan-novel-coronavirus (also currently accessible via the BMA website home page).
Updated resources and guidance are now available, further to the expansion of the geography for clinical case definition from mainland China to: mainland China; Thailand; Japan; Republic of Korea; Hong Kong; Taiwan; Singapore; Malaysia; and Macau; and the modification of the clinical case definition, so that fever without any other symptoms is sufficient criteria for testing (if the patient has also travelled from or transited through the previously named countries in the previous 14 days).
It is now recommended that all travellers who develop relevant symptoms, however mild, within 14 days of returning from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau should self-isolate at home immediately and call NHS 111. It is also recommended that travellers from Wuhan and Hubei Province should self-isolate for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, due to the increased risk from that area.
Primary care is asked to identify possible cases, isolate them immediately, and ask the patient to call NHS 111 from their mobile (or GP landline, if a mobile is unavailable). Primary care settings are not expected to undertake any clinical assessment or sampling (please refer to ‘Guidance for primary care’ below).
Action required:
Please refer to the member’s area for updated posters – please replace any old posters with these, as soon as possible:
https://www.birminghamandsolihullccg.nhs.uk/practice-resources/wuhan-novel-coronavirus
In addition, the following updated guidance is available, which is also on the member’s area:
Coronavirus Priority Assessment Service cover letter Final.pdf
20200207 Coronavirus Priority Assessment Service SOP – Final.pdf
CEM_CMO_2020_004.pdf (CAS Alert)
2019-nCoV_flow_chart_07_Feb.pdf
PHE, in collaboration with the NHS, has also published guidance covering the following: