Tell them to stuff it.
This is not of any use to anyone other than politicians and is not part of
your contract
Trefor
-----Original Message-----
From: GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of mhwalton
Sent: 02 November 2004 00:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HPA and flu uptake data request
The debate continues - most eloquently on the Vision list. Should we or
shouldn't we feed the HPA-beast free-of-charge!
Below - with permission - I am posting a recent letter from Tony Kaye to the
HPA - a Vision user in Trafford. He sums up many peoples' feelings very
eloquently. The HPA's reply is shown also. Please note the name of the
person at the DoH to whom we can consider voicing our concerns
([log in to unmask]).
Apols for the long posting.
Are there any GPC members (Trefor? Faye? Others?) who have an insight or
view on this non-GMS piece of work we are being asked to do?
Mike Walton
St Albans
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-----Original Message-----
From: Kaye Anthony (Trafford North PCT) [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 October 2004 14:43
To: [log in to unmask]; Vivien Simenoff
Cc: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: [nvug] flu monitoring programme
FOR THE ATTENTION OF CAROL JOSEPH AND SUZANNE ELGOHARI
------------------------------------------------------
This email is being copied to the National Vision User Group forum, and the
Trafford North PCT and the Salford and Trafford LMC for information.
------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Carol and Suzanne
I have received your most recent email, sent via the Trafford North PCT.
Despite what you say in your opening paragraph, I don't think that it has
been understood by the HPA the depth of feeling about this request, amongst
GPs around the country regarding the provision of this data. I should also
initially point out, that the need for this information could in any event
have been notified to us about 6 months ago, when many of us were preparing
for the flu vaccination programmes.
Equally, I don't think you must have any concept of the pressure we are all
under at the present time, with the work involved in the new GMS contract,
the QOF assessments which are taking place at the present time ( and all the
preparation for these) and the intensity of the flu vaccination programme
and everything else at this time of the year.
I will take your letter paragraph by paragraph.
1. Vision users do not have a SIMPLE way of producing the information in the
AGE BANDS you specified.
2. The CMO's high risk groups are not easily identifiable, without being
given the specific Read Codes for the specific conditions - I have read the
DES in the Blue Book and it is very vague. You say "if you are able to
extract the data from the DES system" - what system? There is no easily
ideintifiable DES system. We have the easily identifiable Quality and
Outcomes Framework "system" ie QMAS - but this does not produce the
information in the format you are requesting. Why do you need the data on a
monthly basis anyway - surely a total for the practice at the end of the
programme would be adequate?
3. You mention again the "DES system" for deriving the denominators and
numerators, and requesting more information at the end of the season.
????????
4. Yes, we have only been informed 2 weeks ago by our PCT
about the requirement for this information. We did contact
our PCT after receiving the letter - hence your recent reply.
5. You mention a web based reporting system. This misses the point.
Going back to the basic problem - we do not have the time to run all the
necessary searches to provide this data. It is not mandatory for us to do
this - what is mandatory is for us to provide the service to our patients,
which we are all doing. It is easy to tell you how many flu vaccinations
have been given in the practice - and the QMAS system will tell you how many
have been given in the relevant high risk categories outlined in the Quality
and Outcomes Framework - GPs do not even need to be involved in the
provision of this information - it can be sent directly to you by the PCT's
who have access the QMAS for every practice. Our payment system through the
DES is for the provision of the vaccine, not for the provision of
information.
I understand that if the information from QMAS is not
adequate, then it should be possible for you, through PRIMIS faciliators, to
fund the development of MIQUEST searches, which can interrogate all GP
systems easily to extract the data, without the need to bother us. I am told
that PCTs have funds available for this. If you do not have the expertise,
there are GPs out there who have offered to create the necessary MIQUEST
searches ( for a fee).
I do hope you will make the necessary arrangements to fund
the development of MIQUEST searches; that you will revisit
the real need for the information you are requesting; that
you will consider the fact that it is not mandatory for provision of this
information; review the fact that GPs are already overstretched at the
present time, and I would suggest that until such time as you are able to
extract the data yourselves, you abandon this request gracefully.
Many thanks ( on behalf of GPs around the country)
Tony Kaye
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Reply from Carol Joseph of the HPA:
Dear Dr Kaye
Thank you for your comments on the flu vaccine tracking programme. We are
receptive to your comments and share your concerns about the work involved.
Unfortunately we could not go public with the new data requirements this
year until it had gone through ROCR, the DH approval system, and this only
happened in September although we started the process back in the spring.
Hence it has resulted in trying to implement a new programme very quickly
instead of having a lead in time for discussion and consultation.
The DH require us to monitor the uptake of vaccine in the
>65s and this year
the <65s by risk. We have not been involved in the software side for
delivering the data since that is outside our remit and is supposed to be
taken care of by the PCTs and DH. At my meeting with the DH last week it was
agreed that the DH will accept what can be provided this year for the new
programme rather than the gold standard originally specified and that next
year everything should be in place to do this work more easily.
Thus, please send whatever data you can to your PCT. Also please send your
complaints to the DH to Mr Jeff Porter ([log in to unmask]).
Best wishes
Carol Joseph
Dr Carol Joseph
Consultant Clinical Scientist (Epidemiology) Legionella Section Head Health
Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Respiratory
Diseases Department 61 Colindale Avenue London NW9 5EQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 8200 6868 ext 7497
Tel: direct dial: +44 (0) 208 327 7497
Fax: +44 (0)20 8200 7868
email: [log in to unmask]
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