COVID-19 Update

4 June 2020

A weekly update for providers and professionals working in primary medical and dental services, sharing the latest guidance on COVID-19 and CQC's approach during this period.

Emergency Support Framework - guidance for providers

We are now using our Emergency Support Framework (ESF) with General Practice and health and care providers in the criminal justice system. We will now be rolling out the framework to independent doctors and clinic services from 8 June. 

To support its implementation, we have recorded a new webinar for providers setting out what to expect from the ESF, which is available via YouTube. You also can find out more through Rosie Benneyworth's recent blog and on our website. We have also published the discussion questions for General Practice and health and care providers in the criminal justice system.

We will continue to share information about when we the tool is rolled out to other primary medical and dental services.

Principles of safe video consulting in general practice during COVID-19

NHS England and the Royal College of General Practitioners have published guidance aimed at NHS general practice staff who are consulting via video with patients at home. It includes the key principles for safely assessing patients using a video consultation. Read the guidance in full.

COVID-19: review of disparities in risks and outcomes

Public Health England has published the findings of an inquiry commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care into disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19. 

The review looked at different factors including: age and sex; where people live; deprivation; ethnicity; people's occupation; and care home residence. 

The largest disparity found was by age. Among people already diagnosed with COVID-19, people who were 80 or older were 70 times more likely to die than those under 40. Risk of dying among those diagnosed with coronavirus was also higher in males than females; higher in those living in the more deprived areas than those living in the least deprived; and higher in those in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups than in White ethnic groups. Visit the GOV.UK website to see the full report.

Innovation and inspiration - how providers are responding to COVID-19

Health and care providers from all sectors have shared examples with CQC showing how they have innovated and adapted working practices to respond to the challenges of dealing with coronavirus (COVID-19). 

The short examples, from small home care agencies to large acute hospitals, are also a celebration of the dedication and resourcefulness of health and care providers and staff. Visit our website for more information.

We would like to thank everyone who has shared their examples with us - we were overwhelmed with the response. We'll be updating the case studies regularly, so please do continue to share your examples with us by email. You can also join the conversation on Twitter via @CQCProf and #RespondingToCovid.

Globalscape system works: planned downtime

A number of registered providers use CQC’s secure file transfer system, Globalscape, to send us information securely. Due to planned system works, Globalscape will be unavailable from 5pm on Friday 5 June to 7am on Monday 8 June.

There will also be a change freeze from 3pm on Friday 5 June to 7am on Monday 8 June, during which time no changes can be made to the system.

Following the works, please ensure you use the following URL: https://www.cqcsecure.org.uk/. The application and your username and password will not change.

CQC publishes data on deaths of people with a learning disability

Supported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), we have completed a targeted piece of analysis to better understand the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on people with a learning disability, some of whom may be autistic, and how the number of deaths during this period compares to the number of deaths last year. 

This analysis looked at all deaths notified to CQC between 10 April and 15 May from providers registered with CQC who provide care to people with a learning disability and/or autism (including providers of adult social care, independent hospitals and in the community) and where the person who died was indicated to have a learning disability on the death notification form.

This data shows that between 10 April and 15 May this year, 386 people with a learning disability, some of whom may also be autistic, died who were receiving care from services which provide support for people with a learning disability and/or autism. This is a 134% increase in the number death notifications compared to the same period last year. 

Every death in these figures represents and individual tragedy for those who have lost a loved one. The figures show that the impact on this group of people is being felt at a younger age range than in the wider population - something that should be considered in decisions on testing of people of working age with a learning disability and/or autism. 

Visit our website for more information.

All CQC offices are closed - please do not send post

Guidance for primary care and dental services professionals

• NEW: The Health and Safety Executive has guidance on legionella risks during the coronavirus outbreak and on safe water management in healthcare premises
• We have updated our equality and human rights impact assessments
• We have published guidance on working within the Mental Capacity Act during the coronavirus pandemic
• The British Psychological Society has issued guidance on meeting the psychological needs of people with learning disabilities and their carers
• The Central Alerting System (CAS) is an online cascading system for issuing patient safety alerts, important public health messages and other safety critical information and guidance to the NHS and others, including independent providers of health and social care. Providers can register to receive these alerts through the MHRA website
• Guidance on exemption from health charges for care and treatment of COVID-19
• Updated Mythbuster on mandatory training
• Updated interim guidance on DBS and other recruitment checks
• Guidance clarifying existing practice for verifying deaths outside of hospitals and providing a framework for safe verification of death
• Free mindfulness resources for health and care staff
• Joint statement on CQC's regulatory approach during the coronavirus pandemic
• CQC guidance for providers delivering antibody tests or blood tests
• DHSC guidance for care staff supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults during COVID-19.
• The Health and Safety Executive has published guidance on RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19
• Sign up to receive the NHS England primary care bulletin
• The British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)  have jointly produced a protocol that can be used by various groups of professionals to verify death remotely with a clinician.
• We have published guidance to clarify when coronavirus swab testing falls within the scope of CQC regulation and what we expect of providers who are delivering that activity.
• Joint statement from CQC and the GMC on community based prescribing for COVID-19 symptoms
• Briefing from NHS England on the Coronavirus Act - excess death provisions: information and guidance for medical practitioners
• NICE COVID-19 rapid guidelines 
• Advice and information on looking after your mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak from NHS England and the Mental Health Foundation
• Latest updates and guidance for dental practice
• Webinars for community pharmacy, dental, digital primary care and general practice staff, including links to recordings of past webinars
• Guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care on how local authorities can use the new Care Act easements
• Investigation and initial clinical management of possible cases
• Guidance for primary care
• Guidance on the supply and use of personal protective equipment
• Letters for providers and professionals from NHS England/Improvement
• Guidance for health professionals
• Guidance from NHS England and Improvement
• Guidance for health professionals who have diagnosed a case within their facility 
• Infection prevention and control 
• Rapid tests for use in community pharmacies or at home
• Guidance for sampling and for diagnostic laboratories 
• Department of Health and Social Care's coronavirus action plan
• NHS England has published measures for people who might be at greatest risk from coronavirus. Guidance (including an easy read version) is available on its website. People who are classed as extremely vulnerable are being asked to register for support.

Accessibility resources to help you communicate about COVID-19

• NEW: Imperial College London, in partnership with the BME Health Forum and the North West London Clinical Commissioning Groups have produced a series of videos aimed at encouraging people to continue to use health services if they are unwell. They are available in English, Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish and Sylheti. 
• Resources from Learning Disability England
• Signhealth has made their InterpreterNow remote BSL interpretation service available for free across all healthcare services
• Signhealth is providing a videos of summaries of key coronavirus guidance in BSL
• Public Health England stay at home guidance, translated and in easy read
• Public Health England guidance on social distancing, translated
• NHS guidelines translated into up to 50 languages by Doctors of the World and find video advice here
• Easy read information on COVID-19 from Mencap
• Public Health England resources in accessible formats
• COVID-19 guidance for providers of services for people experiencing rough sleeping
• The handwashing rap, produced to help people who have a learning disability

Further information

• Public Health Matters blog from Public Health England
• Number of COVID-19 cases in the UK

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