The NHS must urgently rethink its vaccination priorities, ensuring that frontline NHS staff are protected against the new variant COVID-19, the British Medical Association has said. Access to vaccines continues to be “sporadic,” the BMA said, citing reports from its members across the country. BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul wrote to NHS England chief executive…

Frontline practice staff should get priority for the COVID-19 vaccine given the increased risks posed by the new strain of the virus, senior doctors said today. Most frontline doctors, including GPs, have “no idea” when they might get the vaccine, according to a survey by the Doctors’ Association. Especially in tier 4 areas, trusts have…

In the middle of October I participated in a podcast discussing the low morale in primary care, how everyone had just about had enough of the 6.30 am TV appearance of Matt Hancock telling Joe Public that primary care was going to be doing X, Y and Z today… and yet we had no clue…

Amidst the craziness of the past few weeks one thing has become more than apparent: we have a significant management capacity problem in general practice at the moment. The introduction of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) has been a challenge for a number of reasons, but increasingly because there simply is not the management capacity to…

Most practices expect to continue using remote consultations and triage after the end of the pandemic – but continue to struggle to meet demand, according to two new surveys. 77% of GPs plan to use remote working practices “frequently” post pandemic, according to a survey by the Medical Defence Union. Among the respondents, 90% felt…

Further practices are due to begin COVID-19 vaccination today – although dozens of patients were disappointed yesterday when vaccines failed to arrive. At least 200 appointments were lost in Southport, Merseyside, in Gillingham, Kent, and Kingston, Surrey, because of non-arrival, it was reported. NHS England claimed delays were because practices had not completed safety checks…

Practice-based COVID-19 vaccination will begin today, NHS officials have stated, in spite of warnings of major logistical challenges. Some medical spokespeople have warned that many practices are reluctant to take part in the programme amid concerns about premises and staffing. NHS England promised that “hundreds” of practice vaccine centres will open across England this week,…