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TASK SPECIFIC
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 Cardiac Imaging   Arrhythmias & Sudden Death
 Stroke  Primary Care & Prescribing Guidelines  18 Week Wait  End of Life  Medicines Management  Women & Heart Disease  Steering Groups
 

PRIMARY CARE & PRESCRIBING GUIDELINES
A sub-group of the Network Board was established during 2005 to take forward initiatives focused around primary care elements of the cardiac patient journey. with membership comprised of PCT CHD Leads, GPs, GPwSIs and PbC leads from across North West London.

To date, the group has developed joint guidance with acute care on the prescribing of Clopidogrel - please <CLICK HERE> to view the guidance. Guidance on the use of Statins has also been developed - please
<CLICK HERE> to view.

Please <CLICK HERE> to view the Terms of Reference for the Cardiac & Stroke Primary Care Group

AGENDAS AND MINUTES
MINUTES
Jan 10
June 10
Aug 10  

PRIMARY CARE SUB-GROUP DOCUMENTATION
GPwSI Mapping
Educational Events Overview
BNP Testing in Acute Trusts
CVD Primary Prevention
QoF Progress on CHD - targets across NW London PCT's 2004 - 2008
 

EDUCATION
Post-graduate Certificate in Cardiovascular Medicine
In April 2006, the Network launched a sector wide educational programme aimed at General Practitioners and Specialist Cardiac Community Nurses. This course has been developed in collaboration with Thames Valley University, Harrow PCT and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (St Mary's Hospital).

The programme covers a broad range of cardiovascular medicine and is designed to underpin care provided within the community. In parallel, course participants will spend clinical sessions within their local acute Trust to support learning outcomes.

More than 40 primary care practitioners attended the first sector-wide course, which was run over 4 months and culminated in a formal examination process. As part of the assessment process, candidates were also required to spend time in local cardiology departments, which required considerable support from our North West London hospital clinicians. This arrangement has encouraged better working relationships between GPs and their local cardiology departments.

The Network will be looking at running the programme again in 2007 due to the high demand for places last year.

CARDIAC CARE IN THE COMMUNITY GP EVENTS
In response to discussion with GPs and GP tutors regarding how best to communicate with General Practice staff in North West London, the Network held two primary care events in December 06 entitled 'Cardiac Care in the Community'. The events took place in inner and outer London and were attended by 89 clinicians from general practice.

Please <CLICK HERE> to view the presentations from the two events, or <CLICK HERE> to view the evaluation of the education sessions.

INTRODUCTION TO CARDIAC CARE COURSE FOR
PRACTICE NURSES

To address the shortage of training provision specifically for practice nurses in cardiac care, the Network has established an 'Introduction to Cardiac Care' course for practice nurses in North West London. The course content is founded on a programme developed by Harrow PCT, which has run a number of times in previous years. In addition, there has been input from practice nurses, specialist nurses and other allied health professionals from across the sector.

To view the full programme for the 3- day event, please click on the PDF icon to view Programme If you would like any further information, please email dawn.holloway@nhs.net

Please <CLICK HERE> to view the presentations from the event.

Evaluation Evaluation - Practice Nurse Training - March 07

Evaluation Evaluation - Practice Nurse Training - Sept 07


PRIMARY PREVENTION

NHS Healthchecks -
The government made a commitment to implement NHS Health Checks and a management programme for adults aged 40 to 74 years from April 2009. Iit is anticipated that implementation will begin in 2009/10 with a staged rollout over 5 years which will ramp up over time. The purpose of the health check is to identify those individuals at risk from CVD, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease and then to recommended interventions and lifestyle changes to reduce their risk.
All 8 PCTs in North West London have now commenced their checks and are at various stages of implementation. Checks are being carried out in GP practices, pharmacys and community centres. Most PCTs are doing this via a GP and Pharmacy LES (Local enhanced Services). All PCTs have a Project Manager to implement the health checks.
NHS Improvement has regular NHS Health Check National Learning Network Workshops – the eighth one is on Wednesday 21 st July.
NHS London also holds regular Pan London meetings where all the project managers in the sector are encouraged to attend. The Network encourages shared learning and good practices by holding a bi-monthly meeting for the sector.

Baseline Assessment Primary & Secondary Prevention: Baseline
Assessment August 07

SMOKING

Press Release - No Smoking Day - 14th March 2007 Press Release

Communication Card - Smoke Free England! Smoke Free England

Smoking is a greater cause of death & disability than any single disease. Stopping smoking is the most important step smokers can take to reduce their risk of dying from heart disease. NWLCN supports No Smoking Day www.nosmokingday.org.uk

This year with local PCT Stop Smoking teams we have prepared a leaflet outlining the benefits to your heart from stopping smoking and other healthy steps you can explore to keep away from cigarettes when trying to quit. It can take several attempts to quit, but dont give up, giving up. You are 4 times more likely to make a successful attempt if you try to quit in a group and use nicotine replacement therapy.

Non-smokers who breath in secondhand smoke, from being near smokers, increase their risk of dying from heart disease by 25%. From the 1st July 2007, virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed places and work places across England will become Smoke Free. To find out more please visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk
www.smokefreelondon.co.uk

The NWLCN has met with Smokefree London and Smokefree leads from the eight different boroughs and primary care trusts in North West London to support sharing of good practice and identify areas for joint work.

SHISHA / WATERPIPE SMOKING
The Network has produced information on the health effects of Shisha/waterpipe smoking and have spoken to a range of stakeholders and groups about the benefits of Smokefree. Please <CLICK HERE> to view the Communication Leaflet produced by the Network on Shisha/Waterpipe smoking. The leaflet has been produced in a variety of different languages.

For further information on any of the above please contact Dawn Holloway - dawn.holloway@nhs.net