Because they were written following previous government guidance that has now been withdrawn and was significantly different from the most recent current advice. Current advice covers a much smaller group of patients who are extremely clinically vulnerable in the current situation and who are advised to shield. These patients are being identified centrally.

That advice has been withdrawn. The advice to shield is going to be given centrally. Only when that phase has been completed, and when COVID risk codes have been made available by clinical system suppliers, will GPs have to identify any missing vulnerable patients (to a very strict definition) for shielding. You may be asked to review their current care plans and contact patients if it needs changing.

Because the first iteration of the list only used hospital data, the next one will incorporate GP data. Also, remember the criteria is very strict.

Depending on the kind of vulnerability, they may be already receiving support from the local authority, or they may be suitable for support from Social Prescribers or other professionals within the GP Surgery or Primary Care Network, or you may refer them to the new network of NHS Volunteer Responders.

Yes, if you feel the symptoms described in your consultation match closely those of COVID-19. Coding information helps inform CCGs & Local Authorities. When planning support you can use the CEG template to accurately code information.

Yes, if you have Resource Publisher you will find it there RP COVID-19 CEG, if you do not have Resource Publisher it should have been sent to you by your CEG facilitator or primary care support officer. If you haven’t received it please contact us: cegcovid@qmul.ac.uk

Although we publish via resource publisher updated templates, EMIS on laptops and sometimes on practice computers do not update. If this is an issue you must contact EMIS support who will guide you through the process of deleting the cache.

Yes, we are receiving feedback from local GPs and commissioners, and we are working to find out exactly what groups you want to identify and with what purpose, for example patients who are vulnerable due to mental illness. Additionally, in most NEL areas there is already some kind of high risk, or high complexity, or frailty system that allows you to identify who might need extra help: Integrated Care Complex patients in Tower Hamlets, Proactive Care in City and Hackney, etc.

There is a template for SystmOne which your facilitator would have made available to you.

Yes, otherwise they will not be captured in the NEL dashboard and there is no way of knowing what is happening at primary care level.

It reports the number of cases on a daily basis, coded as:

The dashboard reports only information coded by NEL GP practices, other figures include hospital data too. CEG with Discovery are working on joining the two sources up as soon as possible.

No, it is hosted by the East London Health Partnership (ELHP) and can either be accessed by clicking on Analytics then COVID-19 on their home page or directly from the following URL:

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNTY0OTQ1N2QtNzFiMi00NTE5LWIwZmYtODBlZmQ2NTIwMTYwIiwidCI6ImQyMjc2ODJmLWFiNWEtNDlmNi04NzNhLThlZmQ1MDQ1ZjBmNCJ9

Yes, CEG will offer direct tele-support using packages such as Zoom or Skype as well as normal e-mail contact. In some cases you may want to give your locality facilitator or Primary Care Support Officer a login to your practice - this will enable them to assist you directly with tasks such as installing templates and copying searches. However, NEL have announced that targets linked to Local Incentive Schemes have been suspended in order to free up capacity to enable practices to concentrate their resources on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. CEG will continue to work with commissioners in accordance with their changing priorities.