PBSGL and Covid-19

`15/05/2020

We hope that you, your families and practice teams are all staying safe and well during this testing time. 

 

We are aware that some of you are not in a position to engage with PBSGL at the moment, and also that some groups have made the decision to continue to meet virtually during this time.  We encourage you all to do what feels right for you.

 

If you have made the decision to continue to meet, why not tweet us with picture of your virtual meeting and the module you’re studying?  We’d love to hear from you and stay connected during this time @CPDConnect. Alternatively, you could email us at pbsgladministrator@nes.scot.nhs.uk.

 

Virtual PBSGL Meetings

 

In view of the corona virus pandemic and the need for social distancing, some PBSGL groups may want to meet using video technology.  We have produced a PowerPoint presentation with audio soundtrack that will help facilitators use VC technology effectively. A second PowerPoint describes PBSGL for GPSTs who may not have come to a meeting so far. It is longer and gives some details of how the modules work.

 

Both PowerPoint's are available at: http://www.cpdconnect.nhs.scot/pbsgl/useful-resources/.

 

NHS Education for Scotland (NES): Coronavirus (COVID-19) learning materials for staff working in health and social care. 

 

NES have produced many resources to support practitioners during COVID-19 and these are hosted on Turas Learn and are accessible to all.  You can register for an account at the site: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/27993/coronavirus-covid-19

 

The CPD Connect team have been involved in the production of webinars to support Remote Consulting in Primary Care and the recordings of these can be found here:

https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/28943/coronavirus-covid-19/remote-consulting-and-recruitment

 

Membership

 

We understand that PBSGL groups are unlikely to be meeting during this time as you will likely be followingthe government guidance and will be focused on keeping front-line services running.  As such, the CPD Connect team would like to advise all of our members that we have taken the decision to extend all existing memberships by 4 and a half months to account for the current period of postponement of activity (mid-March to end July) free of charge.  We want to support you all during this time in any way that we are able.  If you pay your membership during this time we will ensure that this extension is applied.

 

During this time our administrative teams will have limited access to the PBSGL database because we have some technical restrictions, so please bear with us as systems won’t be updated as regularly as usual, and our team is likely to be diverted to support priority work.  We will continue to check the PBSGL mailbox daily for as long as our staffing levels allow.

 

This position will be reviewed as the situation develops.

 

Module Production

 

A small number of PBSGL writers and editors are in a position to continue to do some module production during this time.  As a result, we have a couple of opportunities for members to become involved in discussion groups or for groups to pilot new modules.  If anyone would welcome this opportunity please do not hesitate to contact us.  Further details with be circulated.  However, we don’t wish to deviate from the robust process we follow for PBSGL, so if the timing isn’t right for enough people to become involved we will delay this work and revisit later.

 

How to Design Your Work Better?

 

The NES Safety & Improvement Team, in partnership with other UK and international institutions and experts, has led the development and publication of guidance for health and social care teams on how to design usable and safe work procedures.

 

Examples of typical work procedures include things such as checklists, flow diagrams, standard operating procedures and written instructions – the types of aids that we all use to help us standardise what we do to make our jobs easier and more efficient. 

 

The project has been led by Prof Paul Bowie, NES Programme Director (Safety and Improvement).  He said: “Good work procedures are essential to support best practice and reduce risks at work.  We felt the time was right to produce some easy to follow guidance that health and care teams can use when they are designing and implementing new working procedures or checking that the ones they are using are fit for purpose,” he added. 

 

“The guidelines are not just for use in the current battle against COVID-19.  They are there to help teams design new ways of working as we adapt our normal processes and innovate our way out of this global crisis” he said.

 

The interactive infographic, poster and more detailed guidance can be accessed here: https://www.cpdconnect.nhs.scot/media/2433/work-procedures-infographic-final-signed-off.pdf

 

Primary Care Resilience National WebEx Series #2 - Friday 26 June 2020, 1-2pm

The response to COVID-19 has led to a rapid change in how general practice operates. In this WebEx series we are looking to share this learning through a range of topics, reflect on the learning and discuss what this could mean for the future for primary care. Discussions will be led by Scottish Government, Royal College of General Practitioners and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
This WebEx series is for Cluster Quality Leads, Practice Quality Leads and the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team.

 

Discussion Topics
1) The interface between health and social care: How to build relationships and collaborations between primary care services and care homes in Scotland?
Led by: Dr Scott Jamieson, Executive Officer (Quality Improvement), RCGP Scotland
Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive, Scottish Care
Dr Alasdair Forbes, Deputy Chair (Policy), RCGP Scotland
2) Primary care recovery – refocusing and adapting to the current context
Led by: Dr Michelle Watts, Medical Adviser (Primary Care Division), Scottish Government
Dr Andrew Buist, Chair, Scottish GP Committee, British Medical Association

 

What to expect
This is a dynamic WebEx series where the discussion topics will change each session, to ensure that we are focusing on the most current and relevant topics in primary care.
You can use the chatbox to get involved in discussions, connect with peers, and provide feedback about the topics that matter to you. Your feedback on the WebEx will help inform the topics chosen for our next sessions.

 

How do I join?
Sign up on our registration page and you will be sent an email confirming your registration and joining details. Please keep this email handy as you will need it on the day. Registration is on an individual basis so if you have colleagues you think would be interested in joining, please feel free to send the registration link to them but don’t share your joining details with others.
On the day, please join at least 5 minutes and follow these steps:
• Step 1: Click the link you have been sent to see the visuals and join in with the online discussions.
• Step 2: Dial in on your phone using the number and access code provided to hear the audio.
The WebEx session will be recorded and delegates may be contacted after the event to share any follow up information.

 

Questions? Please get in touch with us at hcis.pcpteam@nhs.net