Use of nationally collected GP practice data will be restricted to researchers working under very specific conditions, it was announced yesterday. NHS officials abandoned attempts to resume the controversial upload of data on 1 September while three conditions were laid down by the government. The changes were welcomed by GP leaders. A national upload was…

Health workers facing an instruction to self-isolate will be able to return to work under strict conditions, it was announced today. Doctors and other health and social care staff governed by the new rules should not work with clinically extremely vulnerable patients, the Department of Health said. Under the roles, the employee will be regarded…

Practices may need improved training about the rights to care of people without documentation, a senior GP has said after an investigation showed how thousands of people were unable to access COVID vaccination. Researchers from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found many practices refusing to register patients without documents to prove their ID, address or…

GP leaders have reacted angrily to a decision to remove the vaccine booster campaign from practices this autumn. The government wants a “double jab” with vulnerable patients receiving their annual flu vaccine at the same time as a booster dose. Practices would normally lead on giving flu vaccines but a letter issued last night by…

Mixed messages from the government are set to expose practice staff to increased levels of abuse, primary care leaders have warned. According to one GP leader, staff have already faced significant abuse as they seek to encourage patients to undergo COVID vaccination. The Londonwide local medical committees is now gathering evidence of the extent of…

Practices should continue to require use of masks from next week to protect safety of patients and staff, the Royal College of GPs has stated. It issued its advice as government ministers appeared to be backtracking on declaring 19 July to be “freedom day.” Under current legislation, there will be no requirement to wear masks…

Patient satisfaction with GP services improved over the last year in spite of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, according to the latest findings of a major annual survey. The proportion of patients saying they had a good experience of making an appointment increased from 65% to 71%, according to the NHS GP Patient survey.…