Category: Covid-19

Information on jabs and boosters to help you navigate working as a GP locum during this pandemic.

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.

GPs running out of LFTs as many stay off sick with Covid-19

GPs are short of tests just as demand for sickness cover rises.

GPs speak out against proposals to stop free lateral flow tests

Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: 'Until the NHS is free of the risks of its workforce coming in to work with COVID, lateral flow tests must remain free.'

Covid-19

NASGP urges locums to add Covid pass on LocumDeck

GPs working in practices in England should show compliance with the NHS’s new vaccine mandate, NASGP has advised members.

‘Sustained fatigue’ new factor in FTP cases

GMC will consider pressure on doctors in mitigation.

Covid-19
GMC

‘Wear FFP2 masks’, BMA warns GPs working face-to-face

GPs should wear FFP2 masks ‘as default’, the union said.

BMA
Covid-19

GP locums under pressure as Omicron cases rise

Dr Fieldhouse: 'We must all work within safe and sustainable levels.'

Covid-19

BMA calls on Government to bring in Covid-19 measures

The NASGP recommends that members remind each practice about BMA recommendations and to insist on appropriate masks.

Covid-19

Work on the PANORAMIC clinical trial

GP locums wanted for an NIHR trial for antivirals.

Covid-19

Review launched into impact of Covid on GPs

The BMA has launched a review into lessons learnt from the pandemic to understand 'the impact on doctors and the NHS'.

Covid-19

Covid-19 booster jabs for GPs

The booster campaign launched last month on 16 Sept and is open to frontline health and care workers as well as identifying other eligible patients.

Covid-19

GP locums now eligible for Covid-19 booster jabs

GP locums can now book a booster via an NHS service.

GPs in Cornwall ‘overwhelmed’ by workforce issues, LMC warns

NASGP is already working with GPs in the West Country to enable GPs outside the area to support their practices remotely.

End of self-isolation creates postcode lottery for GP safety

GPs urge caution as order for people to self-isolate after COVID contact ends.

Managing long Covid in general practice

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

Covid-19

GP locums least likely to have had second Covid-19 dose: BMA

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."

Covid-19

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.”

Covid-19

Covid-19 revaccination campaign scheduled for autumn/winter

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

Three GPs a day quit under burnout and long Covid pressures

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.”

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.

BMA
Covid-19

Government cuts ‘red tape’ for returners

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.

Covid-19

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.

GPs warn of high levels of staff sick leave absence

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."

Covid-19

‘Autumn deadline’ for UK’s Covid-19 vaccinations, health sec 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."

Covid-19