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.
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Latest from the RCGP vlog
#RCGPLive: General Practice post-pandemic
15 April 2021
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From the RCGP blog
- Tier 2 Visa Sponsorship: Planning for Post-CCT, Dr Adam Thomas and Dr Sophie Lumley, RCGP AiT Network Co-Chairs (4 May 2021)
- Our hidden role in just keeping vulnerable patients going should be another entry on the long list of 'business as usual' general practice, Professor Martin Marshall, RCGP Chair of Council (30 April 2021).
- The adaptability of practice team staff during the pandemic - a huge thank you, Dr Chris Williams, Joint Chair of RCGP Scotland (30 April 2021).
- Reflecting on patient care, Dr Laurence Dorman, RCGPNI Chair (30 April 2021).
- Organisations unite to call for action on health inequality, Dr Mair Hopkin, Joint Chair of RCGP Wales (30 April 2021).
Read older posts on the RCGP blog
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COVID-19 articles in RCGP publications
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Updates from the RCGP Research and Surveillance Centre
GP records and long-term effects of COVID-19
11 March 2021
Coding within GP records is obviously crucial to enable us to understand the true prevalence of this disease, and to ensure adequate funding for general practice.
Our Research and Surveillance Centre has put together this excellent ‘crib sheet’ that we hope will help.
Please start recording Post-COVID-19 syndrome in the records of people with symptoms lasting over 12 weeks. Before 12 weeks, whilst investigating the patient, if you suspect their symptoms are related to COVID-19, a code of “ongoing symptomatic covid-19” should be used.
It is also really important to add both diagnoses as a “problem” and to put in the correct onset date.
Work is underway to understand which patients are most at risk of developing long term effects of COVID-19, with the aim of developing evidence-based, patient-centred interventions which could alleviate some of the burden of this disease.
However, this will be challenging to audit if cases can’t be identified. In addition, if we do not accurately count every patient with long term effects of COVID-19, resources may not adequately be allocated for their ongoing care
Following the national guidance written by RCGP/SIGN and NICE, the medical terminology now in use is as follows:
- Acute Covid-19 infection: signs and symptoms of COVID-19: ≤4 weeks.
- Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19: signs and symptoms of COVID-19: 4-12 weeks.
- Post-COVID-19 syndrome: signs and symptoms that develop during or after COVID-19, lasting >12 weeks and not explained by another diagnosis. (This diagnosis can be considered before 12 weeks if all other alternative diagnoses have been ruled out).
Wherever possible please code as many symptoms as possible.
The RSC is always keen to recruit more practices for its valuable work.
More from the Research and Surveillance Centre.
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Letters and statements from RCGP
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The College is in the media almost daily, providing information for GP patients and representing the interests of the profession. RCGP Chair Martin Marshall works with College officers and GPs around the country to ensure that the pressures on general practice are featured on TV and radio programmes, as well as in national and local print media.
Hair loss after COVID-19
RCGP Clinical Lead for Clinical Policy Dr Gail Allsopp was featured in The Sunday Times discussing patients suffering with hair loss after having COVID-19, and why this might be happening.
Six-week post-natal check
College Joint Honorary Secretary Victoria Tzortziou-Brown was featured in the Huffington Post, responding to a survey by NCT, that suggested new mums are not being asked about their mental health at their six week post-natal check. Victoria said that GPs have continued to deliver these checks safely during the pandemic, and that general practice is a confidential and non-judgemental space for patients to have conversations about mental health concerns.
Follow @RCGP on Twitter for the latest updates.
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Latest press releases
Read earlier press releases in our news section
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