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Latest COVID-19 guidance

COVID-19 vaccinations guidance for General Practice

The latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and managing flu vaccinations during the pandemic.

Visit our vaccination guidance page on our COVID-19 Resource hub.

General Practice is open

As we head into the second lockdown in England, the Royal College of GPs have launched a new resource for GP practices urging patients to continue accessing primary care services when they need to. General practice is open – and has been throughout the pandemic – but because of Coronavirus the way patients are seen in primary care has changed.

Find out more about GP is open.

General practice post-Covid

Our report General Practice in the post-Covid world (295 KB PDF) has highlighted emerging evidence that suggests that patients who have recovered from the virus have experienced a range of health problems, including chronic fatigue, ongoing respiratory difficulties and mental health problems. These patients will now be managed in primary care which needs to be supported to effectively ensure high-quality patient care.

Find out more and sign up to the campaign online.

COVID-19 Appraisal and Revalidation support

• RCGP policy statement on GP appraisals during COVID.  

RCGP guidance

Shielding Patient List is coming to an end

The Department of Health and Social Care are writing all patients on the Shielded Patient List (SPL) to inform them that the requirement for shielding guidance for patients previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable is will end. The SPL was created at the beginning of the pandemic when very little was known about COVID-19. Patients on this list were advised to follow shielding advice to avoid contact with the virus while we learned more about COVID-19 and its effects.

There will be a very small number of patients advised to isolate or reduce their social contact for short periods of time due to the nature of their medical condition or treatment, for example have a particularly severe degree of immunosuppression. These patients will be informed of this by their consultant. Any patient who was shielding and has questions should discuss these with their consultant at their next routine appointment. The RCGP e-learning module outlines key information for GPs as the shielding programme draws to a close.

Children and young people (CYP) - Shielded Patient List

The Department of Health and Social Care are writing to CYP patients and their parents to inform them that they are no longer clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV). The Shielded Patient List was created at the beginning of the pandemic when very little was known about COVID-19. Patients on this list were advised to follow shielding advice to avoid contact with the virus while we learned more about COVID-19 and its effects.

Recent research shows that children and young people, including those originally considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable, are at very low risk of becoming seriously unwell from the virus. DHSC has written to all under-18s on the Shielded Patient List to inform them that they will no longer be included on that list. An FAQ document from the DHSC can be found here

There will be a very small number of patients advised to isolate or reduce their social contact for short periods of time due to the nature of their medical condition or treatment. These patients will be under a specialist consultant and should continue to follow their advice.

CYP vaccination eligibility is not affected by the changes to the Shielded Patient List. Vaccination is now available for all 16-17 year olds. Some 12-15 year olds are also eligible for vaccination because of the very specific risks they face and the particular benefits they will receive from the vaccine. However, being eligible for vaccination does not mean CYP are considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable or need to shield.

NHS Digital has worked with GP system providers to create searches to help practices identify those patients aged 12-15 who are eligible for the vaccination as per Green Book guidelines, and this should be taken forward as planned.

Guidance on delivering mass vaccinations during COVID-19

Download the guidance on Delivering Mass Vaccinations During COVID-19: A Logistical Guide for General Practice (PDF 732 KB), 25 August 2020.

Version 3.1 of the guidance incorporates new guidance on Infection, Protection and Control and the use of Personal Protective Equipment. Previously, with requirements to change PPE between patients, our view was patients could be vaccinated at approximately four-minute intervals. With the new guidance that only hand hygiene is required and the wearing of a mask for the duration of a session, we expect that patients could reasonably be booked at two-three minute intervals (allowing for social distancing measures).

Guidance for Remote Verification of Expected Death (VoED) out of hospital

During the COVID-19 pandemic the processes in relation to death registration and management across the UK have been changing to ensure the deceased are treated with the utmost respect, to help minimise delays and distress for bereaved families and to protect public health. In these extraordinary times, there is a need for various groups of workers to work differently and together as one system.

This is why, in collaboration with the BMA, we have produced guidance for the verification of expected death with the remote assistance of other workers so that the verification process can be completed by a clinician safely, ensuring that bereaved families do not experience needless delays, reducing the risk of unnecessary exposure to the virus and allowing clinicians to continue on the front line.

Download the Guidance for Remote Verification of Expected Death (82 KB PDF), 21 April 2020.

Workload prioritisation during COVID-19

In response to the continued development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the easing of social restrictions designed to limit the spread of the virus, and the withdrawal of national Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), the RCGP and the BMA’s GP committee have prepared revised guidance to help practices across the UK continue to manage clinical and non-clinical workload in general practice.

Guidance on Workload Prioritisation during COVID-19 (350 KB PDF), 9 August 2021

Ethical dimensions of COVID-19 for front-line staff

RCGP has produced Ethical Guidance on COVID-19 and Primary Care which is available on the COVID-19 resource hub.

The Royal College of Physicians has published (31 March) ethical guidance for frontline staff dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by more than a dozen other health organisations including RCGP.   

Royal College of General Practitioners Ethical Guidance on COVID-19 and Primary Care.

Royal College of Physicians Ethical Guidance for frontline staff dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, 31 March 2020

GP returners

Thousands of GPs have responded to the call to return to general practice during the COVID-19 crisis and we are very grateful to you.

A range of guidance for GP returners can be found on our dedicated Returning to general practice during COVID-19 page. This includes UK-wide guidance on returning to practice on a temporary basis, information for GPs wishing to support COVID-19 vaccination in England, and guidance for GPs wishing to remain in the clinical workforce after the COVID-19 emergency period comes to an end.

You can also read a blog post from College President Amanda Howe on the important contribution of late career and retired GPs.

Masks and face coverings

Download the Guidance on masks and face coverings in primary care (298 KB PDF), RCGP, 31 July 2020. 

Medical students in response to COVID-19

Download Recruitment and implementation of medical students in response to COVID-19 (759 KB PDF). Last updated 8 April 2020. 

RCGP online resource hub

The COVID-19 Resource Hub has been created to support GPs in understanding and managing this pandemic, with topics ranging from diagnosis to keeping your practice safe. This hub will be updated daily with the latest developments and guidance.

The resource hub includes:

Essential guidance

Key information for GPs during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Remote consultation and triaging

Advice on adapting to changing consultation formats, including best practice for online and telephone triage appointments.

Post-COVID syndrome

Information and resources for GPs supporting patients through recovery from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccination programme

The latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine.

General clinical management

Essential information for GPs about COVID-19, from symptoms and diagnosis to protecting practice staff.

Specific clinical management

Managing COVID-19 alongside specific clinical conditions. 

End of life care

Guidance on dealing with palliative and end of life care, and supporting carers throughout the pandemic.

Specific patient groups and settings 

Information on dealing with specific patient groups throughout the COVID-19 period.

Safeguarding and vulnerable groups

Advice on safeguarding vulnerable patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, including shielding those in high-risk groups. 

Ethics and challenging conversations

Guidance to support GPs with making challenging decisions during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Health inequalities

Information about health equity and caring for socially vulnerable patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.