What's New

Public Health England (PHE) has published new guidance on optimising the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the use of PPE when in short supply, recommending the re-use of items including face masks.

NHS England has announced that guidance will be published shortly advising secondary care to "accept and hold clinical responsibility for GP referrals", and that GPs should continue referring patients despite the current restrictions on elective care due to COVID-19.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published more "rapid guidance" documents on maximising the safety of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and dermatological conditions treated with drugs affecting the immune response.

NHS England has launched a new mental health hotline to offer support and advice to GPs and other NHS staff during the Coronavirus pandemic.

GPs have been told they can now refer vulnerable patients to the NHS volunteer scheme so that they can get support with tasks such as collecting medicines, driving patients to appointments or bringing them home from hospital during the Coronavirus pandemic.

NHS England and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Chris Whitty wrote to GP practices on 3 April advising them to "disregard" previous advice on adding further patients to the register of patients most at-risk during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published new "rapid guidance" on symptom management in patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 in the community, including at the end of life, together with specific advice on managing those with pneumonia.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has warned that anyone using coronavirus as a weapon to threaten emergency or essential workers by coughing at them will face serious criminal charges.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new guidance on when and how to report incidents of the coronavirus under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

NHS England has announced that GPs should be supported by their clinical commissioning group (CCG) to have online consultation systems in place by now.