Dear Member,
 
The countdown to Christmas is almost here and our Care & Share campaign is launching next week! We hope you are excited for the festive season ahead and decorations are in full swing both at home and in practice.
 
Membership Renewals
Renewals for 2022 are now live on our website! An email was sent to our existing members yesterday detailing everything you need to know on how to renew, along with our 2021 newsletter reflecting on the last year. If you missed the email, check your inbox or alternatively click here to begin your renewal process.
 
Guidance for UCA members on Infection Prevention Control Guidelines
On 22 November 2021 the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS England and other UK Health agencies jointly published an update to their official guidance for infection prevention control surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance can be found here.
 
The GCC have issued amended guidance based on these changes: Updated IPC Guidance Published | GCC (gcc-uk.org)
 
In summary of the revised changes, we would like to highlight the following that may apply to you and your practice:
 
  • All practitioners and staff should continue to wear a face masks.
 
  • All patients and visitors should continue to wear a face mask if tolerated.
 
  • All practitioners and staff should not work if they are symptomatic or infectious.
 
  • All patients and visitors should be triaged for COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases.
 
  • Social distancing of at least 1 metre should be adhered to and if feasible social distancing of 2 meters is recommended.
 
  • Environmental factors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious disease should be implemented and maintained. This may include:
 
  1. Appropriate triaging of patients and visitors
  2. Ventilation (Mechanical or natural)
  3. Partition screens that do not impede ventilation
  4. Sufficient hand washing or sanitising areas
  5. Sufficient signage about hand hygiene, face masks and social distancing
 
  • Practitioners and staff should wear IPC compliant PPE when there is a risk of exposure i) to a patient that is confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 or another respiratory infectious disease or ii) of blood or other body fluids. Where there is no risk of exposure to blood or other bodily fluids then gloves and aprons are not mandatory.
 
The UCA’s full interpretation of the guidance notes for its members can be found below. 
 
Yours in Health,
 
UCA Head Office Team
The UCA is supporting the Trussell Trust for our Christmas campaign on 6th December
 
Our Care & Share in the community campaign is taking place on Monday 6th December 2021; however, you can change the date to suit your practice.
  
During this campaign patients will either: 
  • Donate food items up to the value of an adjustment 
  • Pay £10 and donate food items up to the value of the adjustment 
  • Make an online donation to the value of the adjustment 

All food donations are then donated to your local Trussell Trust foodbank. Please note only non-perishable items can be donated. 
The Trussell Trust have over 400 foodbanks 
nationwide providing a minimum of three day emergency food and support to people 
experiencing crisis in the UK. 
A message from our new President Marc Muncila from CE2021: