GPs can defer routine medication reviews to October, under new NHS England guidance issued in the wake of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
However, GPs who can viably conduct the reviews remotely should do so.
Other exceptions include exceptional cases in person, or by home visit, as per local clinical discretion.
Key medication reviews should also continue where a patient is being regularly monitored.
These recommendations were laid out in the latest of NHS England’s letters to GPs.
It also announced that certain PCN service specifications, including the introduction of the structured medication review (SMR) and medicines optimisation service specification, risk being delayed until at least October.
Primary care director Dr Nikki Kanani and director for primary care strategy and NHS contracts Ed Waller added that practices’ QOF payments will be topped up if impacted by Covid-19, and that they ‘strongly recommend’ the suspension of appraisals.
GPs should also anticipate conducting significantly more home visits, as part of the Government’s strategy to navigate the effects of the virus.
