The Government publishes regular alerts and recalls for drugs and medical devices, some of which will be used in primary care. You can subscribe to email alerts, here.

Better Security, Better Care is a national and local support programme to help adult social care providers to store and share information safely. It covers paper and digital records and helps care providers with completion of the DSPT toolkit. 

Support can be obtained from DSPTNE&Y team at england.dsptney@nhs.net

NHS mail is a free encrypted email service available to both the NHS and Social Care. It allows secure transfer of confidential information. To register for NHS mail you will need to be at approaching standards or standards met on the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).

DSPT is a self assessment toolkit to allow the home to demonstrate that they are meeting the required standards for data security. It is a requirement to demonstrate compliance to ensure continued to access to NHS mail and other digital solutions such as proxy online ordering for medication. It must be reviewed and updated annually. It is free to use.

The ODS code is the organisation data service code. 

It is needed to get access to NHS mail and to register on the DSPT. If you don't know it You can find your code here https://odsportal.digital.nhs.uk/Organisation/Search

The Capacity Tracker is a web-based system that has been designed to allow care home managers to quickly and with ease input their care home information and bed vacancies. This information can then easily be viewed by other stakeholders (CCGs, local authorities, NHS providers etc.) to establish the bed state in a geographical area and to support placing individuals in the most appropriate setting for their needs.

In May 2019, the system was 'highly commended' in the HSJ Value awards in the category of Technology Innovation of the Year 2019.

A Community Support Services Directory (compiled by the former NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG) to assist staff working in care and residential homes, is available, here. Please note, information contained in this directory is currently under review.

Emollients are essential in the management of diagnosed dermatological conditions but are often underused. When used correctly, emollients can help maintain and/or restore skin suppleness, prevent dry skin and itching, reduce the number of flare-ups thereby reducing the need for corticosteroid treatment, in addition to other benefits. You can download the full guidance (compiled previously by NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG), here.

The most common cause of gastrointestinal infection in care homes is Norovirus (also known as winter vomiting virus). Norovirus is transmitted from person-to-person via the airborne or faecal-oral route and contaminated environment or equipment. Cases of diarrhoea and vomiting are regarded as infectious until 48 hours after symptoms stop. The flu virus can be equally disruptive and cause distress to people, particularly those with other long-term health conditions.

Viral Gastroenteritis - System Partners Guidance 

There’s Guidance on outbreaks of influenza (flu) in care homes, here.

Flu and norovirus posters can be downloaded, here.

This film for care home staff explains the importance of medicine optimisation, and within that medicine management, for residents with Parkinson's. People with Parkinson's need their medication on time, and the film shows what steps you can take to make sure this happens.

Are you getting enough to eat: This guide from York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides information for patients, relatives and carers.

Fabulous Fortified Feasts: This is a collection of useful recipes, advice and ideas for increasing the calorie and protein intake of people with weight loss, small appetite or people with or at risk of malnutrition.

MUST toolkit: Following feedback and requests from users of ‘MUST’ the Malnutrition Action Group (MAG) has modified the ‘MUST’ BMI charts and weight loss charts, to extend the weight and height ranges, to cater for smaller and larger individuals and also to make them easier and quicker to use. There’s more information, here.

Nutrition and dietetics – information for GPs: York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has compiled a series of leaflets (for use by health professionals only) on a range of topics, including:

• Are you getting enough to eat?
• Dietary & Lifestyle Advice for Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux, Hiatus Hernia, Oesophagitis & Heartburn
• Eating and Drinking with Dementia
• Eating Well for Kidney Problems
• Finger Foods
• First Line Dietary Advice for Carbohydrate Awareness in Diabetes
• Heart Healthy Diet
• High Fibre Diet
• Iron Rich Diet
• Nourishing Drinks
• Physical Activity and Calorie Use
• Vaccination advice for people with coeliac disease

Nutrition and dietetics department – York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Nutrition and Dietetic Department employs registered dietitians and support staff. We provide clinical care to patients of all ages in a variety of settings both in hospitals and the community. You can find out more, here.

Viral Gastroenteritis

Viral Respiratory

A full suite of React To resources is available, here.

The React to Red skin campaign is the latest pressure ulcer prevention campaign to be adopted by NHS North Yorkshire CCG and Tissue Viability Nurses to further raise awareness of pressure ulcer prevention. There’s more information in this patient / carer leaflet and poster. Care home managers can also download a pre-training questionnaire, how to guide and competency form.

Please find the following link to a letter and further information outlining how, on a temporary basis, people working or volunteering in care homes who have a medical reason why they are unable to have a COVID-19 vaccine, will be able to self-certify that they meet the medical exemption criteria. This temporary self-certification process has been introduced for a short period prior to the launch of the new NHS COVID Pass system, of which we are awaiting further details.

Care home workers who are exempt will need to sign the ‘Self-certification form for people with medical exemptions’ or the ‘Self-certification form for people vaccinated abroad’ and show this to their employer as proof of their temporary exemption status.

More information about mandatory covid vaccination in care homes is available here

Vitamin D supplementation: information for care homes

PHE/NICE Guidance recommends that people living in care homes should consider taking vitamin D 10microgram nutritional supplements all year round as part of meeting their nutritional requirements.

You should have processes in place to discuss vitamin D with residents and to support residents to take vitamin D nutritional supplements where they wish to do so or a best interests decision has been made for people who lack capacity.

In line with NHSE guidance GPs will not routinely prescribe vitamin D 10mcg where it is being taken as a nutritional supplement.

Supporting people to take vitamin D 10mcg daily

• Before supporting a person to take vitamin D 10mcg daily, it is important to check whether it is appropriate for that person. The DHSC guidance on vitamin D provides information to help identify those residents who may benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement and those who would not. (Any reference to the "free supply" should be disregarded as this is a reference to supply provided in early 2021 during the Covid restrictions)
• You should obtain advice from a relevant healthcare professional for those who potentially could be offered a vitamin D 10mcg supplement. This should be done at a routine visit or appointment.
• The healthcare professional who provides the advice does not need to be the person’s GP. You may have been given a contact in the Primary Care Network for routine clinical queries, for example.
• You must make a record of any advice obtained including the name and professional designation of the healthcare professional contacted.
• Vitamin D nutritional supplements should be purchased from a reputable source. Care should be taken when selecting products as many preparations available contain higher amounts than the recommended 10 micrograms (400 units) of Vitamin D. Pharmacists can advise on product selection.
• Vitamin D supplements come in a variety of formulations including tablets, capsules and liquids. The formulation should be chosen to suit the needs and preferences of the person taking them.
• You must record any vitamin D given to a resident. We would suggest the MAR chart as the most practical option. You should write the details of the product as stated on the product packaging (including the amount to be given) onto the MAR chart.
• Vitamin D should be stored safely and in line with the information on the product packaging including at the correct temperature. Keeping it with the person’s medication would be a practical option.
• Check the product packaging to see if there is a short shelf life once opened. If there is - put the date of opening on the product. Check regularly that it is still within its useable shelf life.
• Put the name of the person on their individual supply of the vitamin D supplement. Use the person’s full name (not just initials which could be confused with another resident).

If you would like further information on supporting people to take vitamin D please contact the Medicines Management Team at hnyicb-ny.rxline@nhs.net 

An Easy Read guide is available for patients interested in knowing more about what happens when their heart stops. You can access it here.