In the week when face coverings became compulsory on public transport in England, it seems incredible that there’s still confusion over whether face masks are mandatory for patients in GP surgeries. The guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England is muddled and, if the thread on our Practice Index Forum is anything to…

Given that GP practices have changed how they operate significantly to deal with the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, you might expect a few patients to balk at some of the changes but also appreciate the extra effort being made to continue providing care. The reality, however, is that numbers of complaints being made against…

A doctors’ organisation is to go to court in a bid to force an urgent inquiry into the failures that led to NHS staff with inadequate protective equipment. The Doctors’ Association is citing human rights legislation in a bid to get a court to order a rapid investigation – aimed at ensuring the NHS is…

Changes to general practice during the Covid-19 crisis have been “like a cloud” lifting, a senior GP has said. The crisis has changed demands on GPs, enabling them to focus on the “clinically relevant” and to experience an “absence” of red tape, according to Professor Mayur Lakhani, former president of the Royal College of GPs.…

As time in lockdown creeps slowly onward, are you finding life as challenging as I am? With NHSE emails and briefings, LMC and CCG emails, phone calls and an overwhelming tide of new guidance to keep an eye on, how are we all staying sane? I’m struggling to stay ahead of the workload and have…

A new analysis of practice records has confirmed concerns that Covid-19 virus flourishes in areas of dense population. The research, published by The Lancet, also points to high prevalence in ethnic minority communities, independently of population density. Researchers analysed practice data of 3,802 people tested for the virus of which 587 had positive results. There…

Over the past weeks there have been many coronavirus-related questions on Practice Index’s HR and Employment forum. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. In some cases, we advise that you seek advice from a HR or employment law professional before taking action; PLUS members can email the HR Advice Line [PLUS] too.…