Category: Covid-19

A growing repository of information to help you navigate working as a GP locum during this pandemic.

Managing long Covid in general practice

Managing long Covid in general practice

Louise Hudman summarises the latest Nice guidelines on the management of Long Covid.

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GP locums least likely to have had second Covid-19 vaccination dose, BMA finds

GP locums least likely to have had second Covid-19 vaccination dose, BMA finds

Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of NASGP, writes: “It saddens me to see that GP locums are again at the back of the queue, but I’m not surprised."

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GPs to receive double the supply of Covid-19 vaccines from next week

GPs to receive double the supply of Covid-19 vaccines from next week

Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of NASGP, said: “It's great news that general practice is already planning the revaccination programme for this coming winter. With the wheels already in motion for everyone to receive their booster dose and double the existing rate, GPs have shown that general practice is fully capable of managing this demand.”

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Covid-19 revaccination campaign scheduled for autumn/winter 2021

Covid-19 revaccination campaign scheduled for autumn/winter 2021

A revaccination campaign is 'likely to run later this year in autumn or winter', the Government says.

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Three GPs a day quit as burnout and long Covid test tired workforce, NHS stats reveal

Three GPs a day quit as burnout and long Covid test tired workforce, NHS stats reveal

Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the RCGP, told the paper: “GPs and our teams want to provide safe, high-quality care to our patients and we can only do this with an adequate workforce. We desperately need more GPs.”

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No jabs: 12% of GP locums still waiting for first Covid-19 vaccination, BMA warns 

No jabs: 12% of GP locums still waiting for first Covid-19 vaccination, BMA warns 

A BMA poll last week found that 12% of locum GPs had not received their first vaccination against the virus by 23 January - compared with just 2% of partners and 7% of salaried GPs.

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Government cuts ‘red tape’ for returners while sessional GPs struggle to access training

Government cuts ‘red tape’ for returners while sessional GPs struggle to access training

Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “Although it is vital to support the vaccination programme wherever possible, this ‘quick, simple and cheap’ approach of papering over the cracks by fast-tracking retired GPs is no substitute for engagement with the existing sessional GP workforce.

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Sessional GPs ‘much less likely’ to get COVID vaccination despite JCVI priority, BMA survey finds

Sessional GPs ‘much less likely’ to get COVID vaccination despite JCVI priority, BMA survey finds

Without a centralised system for delivering the vaccine to healthcare workers, sessional GPs must undertake their own ‘trial and error’ strategy to get their first jab. 

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Senior GPs warn of high levels of NHS staff sick leave absence as vaccine pressure mounts

Senior GPs warn of high levels of NHS staff sick leave absence as vaccine pressure mounts

NASGP chair Dr Richard Fieldhouse said “It’s highly likely locums will get asked to work at very short notice to backfill other GPs who’re being deployed to vaccinations clinics."

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‘Autumn deadline’ for UK’s Covid-19 vaccinations, health secretary promises

‘Autumn deadline’ for UK’s Covid-19 vaccinations, health secretary promises

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday 10 Jan, Matt Hancock said: “Every adult will be offered a vaccine by the autumn, absolutely."

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GP locums ‘due Covid-19 vaccination by mid-February’, health secretary says

GP locums ‘due Covid-19 vaccination by mid-February’, health secretary says

NHS England has published a letter setting out an 'immediate' requirement for all health and social care staff to receive vaccinations. 

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GPs put their lives on the line because of PPE shortages in first wave, BMA chair tells MPs

GPs put their lives on the line because of PPE shortages in first wave, BMA chair tells MPs

NHS Providers reported on an ‘extremely worrying surge in COVID-19 admissions’ last week. 

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GP locums report delays thanks to ‘random’ approach to Covid-19 vaccination for doctors

GP locums report delays thanks to ‘random’ approach to Covid-19 vaccination for doctors

Want to find out how to get your vaccine? Stay up to date with the most recent news by joining the NASGP today.

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Government ‘needs to learn lessons’ from Test and Trace, warns National Audit Office

Government ‘needs to learn lessons’ from Test and Trace, warns National Audit Office

The NAO will assess the value for money of Test and Trace in spring 2021.

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GP networks pull out of Covid-19 vaccine delivery following ’15-minute obs’ guidance

GP networks pull out of Covid-19 vaccine delivery following ’15-minute obs’ guidance

At least one GP network has had to pull out of delivering the Covid vaccine next week because of new safety guidance.

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Healthcare workers deprioritised by new Covid vaccine strategy

Healthcare workers deprioritised by new Covid vaccine strategy

Meanwhile, the JCVI has also advised that GPs should be prioritised for Covid vaccination based on their personal risk level.

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Prioritise BAME patients for Covid-19 vaccination, RCGP urges

Prioritise BAME patients for Covid-19 vaccination, RCGP urges

The NASGP supports calls by the RCGP to prioritise Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients for Covid-19 vaccinations, given the extensive evidence that they are at higher risk.

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Practices can use £150m ‘second wave’ fund to hire GP locums, BMA confirms

Practices can use £150m ‘second wave’ fund to hire GP locums, BMA confirms

The BMA’s new statement gives practices the support they need to make their own decisions about how to get through the second wave. 

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Covid-19 vaccination campaign to be led by health boards and trusts in Wales

Covid-19 vaccination campaign to be led by health boards and trusts in Wales

GPs working on the Covid-19 vaccination campaign will work for health boards and trusts.

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NHS England announces more than 40 local ‘long Covid’ clinics will open in weeks

NHS England announces more than 40 local ‘long Covid’ clinics will open in weeks

More than 40 clinics will open within weeks, NHSE claims.

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Antibody tests for Covid-19: what use are they in practice?

Antibody tests for Covid-19: what use are they in practice?

NASGP member and Cochrane author Dr Robert Walton shares some clinical advice on Covid-19 antibody tests.

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New £150m ‘second wave’ fund attempts to lock GP locums out

New £150m ‘second wave’ fund attempts to lock GP locums out

Dr Richard Fieldhouse, chair of NASGP, writes: "The problem that general practice is facing is that we need to urgently find and mobilise thousands of new GPs to support practices."

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‘Decision latitude’ is just one sign of burnout for GP locums to pick up on this winter

‘Decision latitude’ is just one sign of burnout for GP locums to pick up on this winter

As a second lockdown kicks in, Dr Adam Staten (co-author with Dr Euan Lawson of GP Wellbeing) explains the reasons why GP locums – even those locked out of sessional work – are burning out.

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How to add Covid-19 rules to your terms

How to add Covid-19 rules to your terms

LocumDeck enables locums to state exactly how they want to work, including adding risk minimisation and shielding information – and NASGP's templates explain how.

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