This site is intended for health professionals only


This year’s flu programme to be ‘biggest in history’, says Hancock

Health secretary Matt Hancock has said that this year will bring the ‘biggest flu vaccination programme in history’, requiring a joint effort between GPs and pharmacies.

It comes as GPs were last week told to ‘gear up for a major expansion of the winter flu programme’ as part of the QOF arrangements for 2020/21, with reports the Government may look at vaccinating everyone over the age of 50.

But this comes as GPs look set to face ‘unprecedented’ flu vaccine shortages as manufacturers have said they may not be able to provide additional stock being ordered for this winter.

Speaking at the National Pharmacy Association annual conference – held virtually today – Mr Hancock told delegates the Government is ‘expecting high demand’ as it plans for winter.

He said: ‘We all know that having had an incredibly difficult six months, the next big moment is as winter approaches. We’re currently planning in detail for winter and we’re expecting high demand.

‘We’re working hard on a combination of the Covid vaccination programme, should a vaccine work – the science on that is as yet unproven. And of course, the biggest flu vaccination programme in history.’

He told delegates: ‘We’re going to frankly need to use all of the capabilities at our disposal to deliver the vaccine programmes that we need to in the months ahead.’

Pharmacies will play a ‘critical role’ in the ‘huge amount of work to do’, including the flu vaccine rollout he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Hancock reiterated that community pharmacists can take on 20m GP appointments for patients with minor illnesses to ‘take pressure off GPs’ and ‘deliver a better service’.

They can do ‘much more’ to alleviate pressure in general practice, he added.

He said: ‘I’m keen to see people with minor illnesses referred to community pharmacy – to take pressure off GPs, and crucially deliver a better service.

‘Twenty million GP appointments could be referred to community pharmacists every year. And there’s much much more that you can do.’

Community pharmacies are an ‘untapped resource’ and the Government goal is to ensure they can operate ‘at the top of their licence’, he added.

Patients calling NHS 111 with minor conditions are referred for same-day consultations at their local pharmacy under the five-year community pharmacy contract last year.

The consultation service launched in October but has been paused during the pandemic.

If successful, GPs and A&E could start referring patients to the service within the next five years. 

Pulse voluntary donation scheme

Since the outbreak of this pandemic, Pulse has strived to support you, whether it be through our resources page, our ‘Clinical Crises’ series, holding policymakers to account with exclusives such as practices being supplied with faulty masks, or GPs being told to stop routine services in the hardest hit areas.

However, good journalism cannot be done on the cheap and, like the whole publishing industry, we have been affected by the economic slowdown. We also strongly believe the content we produce should remain free as we feel it is essential for you. Because of this, we have set up a voluntary donation scheme. There is no compulsion whatsoever to donate. But if you feel we are helping you, and you would like to support us, anything you can spare would be greatly appreciated. Read more here.

Donate here


          

Visit Pulse Reference for details on 140 symptoms, including easily searchable symptoms and categories, offering you a free platform to check symptoms and receive potential diagnoses during consultations.