Consortium of
Lancashire&CumbriaLMCs

The LMC are aware that practices may have recently had communications regarding sharing their patient records with either or both UK BioBank and CPRD which are both highly respected research companies.

As the data controller of the patients’ records the practice has responsibilities under GDPR. Some of those responsibilities are clear and some aspects are not as clear because of the data controller / data processor relationships.

GPC are in the process of clarifying with the ICO if this places any additional responsibilities on practices and hope to be able to offer definitive advice soon.

However in the meantime we recommend that practices do not agree to either scheme unless they are clear that they have fully complied with their GDPR responsibilities.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any specific queries on this issue.

The England LMC Conference took place Friday 23rd November at the Mermaid conference centre in London. The attached document details the conference resolutions, election results and motions lost.

We are also pleased to announce that Dr Rakesh Sharma, Lancashire Pennine LMC member, was elected to join the agenda committee for the next conference!

GPC News 4 – England LMC conference resolutuions and elections – November 2018

The new regulations to widen the availability of cannabis-based medicinal within the NHS came into effect on 1 November 2018. Prescribing is restricted to a doctor on the GMC specialist register prescribing within their field of expertise where the cannabis-based product is an unlicensed ‘special’ medicinal product for use by a specific patient. Once a product receives a licence from the MHRA, it will be available for prescription in the same way as any other Schedule 2 drug.

The BMA has published some Q&As to explain what these changes mean, which include links to other guidance including:

Letter from NHS England with guidance on cannabis-based products for medicinal use

Guidance from the British Paediatric Neurology Association on use of cannabis-based products for children with epilepsy

RCP and RCR recommendations on cannabis-based products for medicinal use

NHS England has also published a patient leaflet which helpfully states that ‘You cannot get cannabis-based medicine from your GP – it can only be prescribed by a specialist hospital doctor’

Please see the following link highlighting advice provided by MHRA for healthcare professionals regarding Fentanyl patches:

https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/transdermal-fentanyl-patches-life-threatening-and-fatal-opioid-toxicity-from-accidental-exposure-particularly-in-children?utm_source=eshot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DSU_October2018_Main2

Advice is being reiterated because MHRA continue to receive reports of unintentional opioid toxicity and overdose of fentanyl due to accidental exposure to patches.

The DHSC has asked the GPC to inform LMCs that the supply situation for hepatitis B vaccines has improved and customers should be able to order as per historical demand.

Although MSD have constrained supplies of the vaccines, GSK have very good supplies available. However, GSK have been underselling significantly over the last few months and GPs are one customer type who are ordering much less than expected- taking into account their historical demand and need for a catch up for those who missed out on vaccination during the supply issues.

DHSC would therefore like to remind practices that they should now be able to access good supplies of the hepatitis B vaccines.