As you may well have heard in the news recently, there have been a number of cases of monkeypox in England. Recent cases have been predominantly in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men although as with any virus, this could possibly change. The source of these infections is currently being investigated because the evidence suggests that there may be the transmission of the monkeypox virus in the community, spread by close contact. Investigations are underway to establish links between cases. Those patients needing medical care are all in specialist infectious disease units. Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease, but there are a number of cases in the UK and that number is rising. Monkeypox is a viral infection usually associated with travel to West Africa. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness, spread by very close contact with someone with monkeypox and most people recover within a few weeks. The virus can spread if there is close contact between people and the risk to the UK population is low. However, recent cases are predominantly in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and as the virus spreads through close contact, we are advising these groups to be alert to any unusual rashes or lesions on any part of their body, especially their genitalia, and to contact a sexual health service if they have concerns. Symptoms Unusual rashes or lesions on the body such as the face or genital area Fever Muscle aches Chills and exhaustion Headaches Swollen lymph nodes Current national situation It’s important to stress that numbers are incredibly low however all updates will be published via a rolling news story, where you’ll also find the latest case numbers- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/monkeypox-cases-confirmed-in-england-latest-updates Call to action If you think you have monkeypox symptoms – however mild: Contact NHS 111 or call a sexual health clinic immediately. Your call will be treated sensitively and confidentially. Avoid close personal or sexual contact with others until you know that this is not monkeypox. Please contact clinics ahead of your visit and avoid close contact with others until you have been seen by a clinician. Your call or discussion will be treated sensitively and confidentially.

Rochdale nurse, Caroline Lomax, has been given the prestigious title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) by community nursing charity The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI). The title has been awarded to Caroline for her high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. Nurses who hold the title of Queen’s Nurse benefit from developmental workshops, bursaries, networking opportunities, and a shared professional identity. Caroline is a General Practice nurse, having spent the majority of her career at her current practice, Castleton Health Centre in Rochdale. During her career, Caroline has instigated a number of successful health promotion projects, including an inspirational project to encourage young adult males aged between 18 and 24, to take ownership of their health and well-being through regular ‘Young Men’s Health Clinics’ – a topic close to Caroline’s heart having two sons in the same age bracket. Caroline has a particular interest in cardiology and was the leading force behind the installation of defibrillators in her son’s local high school. She has mentored various nurse roles at Castleton Health Centre and is also part of a team to support trainee GPs in practice. Caroline recently completed a leadership programme with GP excellence with the NHS England and NHS Improvement CARE (Connected, Authentic, Resilient, Empowered) Leadership and Resilience Programme, and she is currently undertaking a Quality Improvement Project to evolve and improve population health. Caroline said: “I am delighted to receive the accolade of Queen’s Nurse. My patients are at the heart of everything I do and I am passionate about my role as a General Practice nurse where I can get to know my patients and gain a wider understanding of the health needs of the local community. My goal as a Queen’s Nurse is to continue to be an inspiring role model and mentor to future generations of nurses. I am looking forward to being part of a nationwide support network and I believe that the title of Queen’s Nurse will give me the platform to make a difference and further develop the role of community nursing.” Dr Mamman, Senior GP at Castleton Health Centre said: “We are very proud of Caroline, and the dedication and care she shows to our patients, staff and GP partners. Caroline is a much valued and integral part of our team and is a credit to nursing.” Dr Chris Duffy, Chair of NHS HMR CCG added: “On behalf of NHS HMR CCG, I would like to congratulate Caroline on receiving such a prestigious title. We are honoured to have a nurse who is so committed to her career and patients working in one of our Rochdale GP practices.” Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, Chief Executive of the QNI said: “On behalf of the QNI I would like to congratulate Caroline and welcome her as a Queen’s Nurse. Queen’s Nurses serve as leaders and role models in community nursing, delivering high-quality health care across the country. The application and assessment process to become a Queen’s Nurse is rigorous and requires a clear commitment to improving care for patients, their families and carers. We look forward to working with Caroline and all other new Queen’s Nurses who have received the title this year.”

Our BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) Degree Apprenticeship is designed to support the development of confident, professional nurses, able to deliver and lead adult care within an ever-changing health and social care environment. You can offer structured on-the-job training and a nationally recognised qualification in nursing, helping you attract the best new talent and retain valued staff through career progression. Your apprentices will be able to put their new skills and understanding into practice immediately, benefitting your organisation and the communities you serve without delay. This programme has been fully mapped to the Registered Nurse Degree (NMC 2018) Apprenticeship standard (ST0781) and study at the University will complement learning in your workplace. We’ll work with you to devise individual learning agreements for each of your apprentices, ensuring they fulfil the criteria of the apprenticeship, as well as develop additional skills and knowledge valuable for your organisation. Our passionate and knowledgeable staff will support your apprentices as they learn to care for adults with acute and long-term illnesses, in the hospital and at home, and gain expertise in health promotion and disease prevention. On successful completion of this qualification, your apprentices will possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform as independent, highly competent, compassionate nurses who can be trusted to maintain professional standards and assure the protection of the public. If your employee is a qualified nursing associate or assistant practitioner, then they may be able to join this course at Level 2 (HE5) and top-up their existing foundation degree to achieve the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) and complete the degree apprenticeship in two years or less. This well-recognised route for healthcare practitioners recognises and values their prior learning and experience and allows them to take on full nursing responsibilities more quickly.

Just because Covid-19 isn’t headline news anymore, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to keep up to date with your vaccinations. To make it as easy as possible we are still running a walk-in clinic on a Saturday between 10am and 2pm at No 1 Riverside in Rochdale. If you fit into any of the following groups, we can’t stress enough how important it is for you to receive your next vaccination. It couldn’t be easier; there’s rarely any queue and it takes just a couple of minutes for us to check your details and administer the vaccine. • First dose for people 12 years and over. • Second dose for people 12-17 years and 12 weeks since your first dose. • Second dose for people 18 years and over and 8 weeks since your first dose. • Booster for people 16 years and over if 3 months or more since your second dose. • Spring booster for people 75 years and over. • Aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed if 6 months since your last dose.

The PCA invited local Sixth form college students interested in applying for medicine to join us online for a two-day Medical Work Experience virtual workshop. The programme was open to all but applications were encouraged from students from lower-income households and those who may have been the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education. The workshop was designed to give the students a taste of a career as a doctor. The group discussed the many options and opportunities in medicine, the application and training process, and considered issues like medical ethics to help with their applications and interviews for medical school. We then used an online platform from the RCGP to watch the role plays of consultations. The students found this really useful… “I liked how we reflected on the observe GP consultation, which gave me more insight into what being a GP is actually like” The session ended with a Q&A with Dr Cheshire about her journey to become a GP - they were able to ask questions a get a realistic idea of her training and day-to-day work. Student Volunteering Work Experience!! Some of the students were then able to take up an opportunity for some practical non-clinical work experience in the vaccination centres. For this programme, we held a training day at Riverside and students volunteered at the surge pop-up vaccination clinics at local community centres in Rochdale. They helped out with marshalling and got to shadow vaccinators and learn about the COVID vaccination programme etc. The student volunteers were a great help and all the feedback showed they also got so much out of it. …. ”It has been an excellent experience and I feel very privileged to have been a part of this opportunity” Thank you to all of the group who attended, or helped to organise for their time and enthusiasm. It was a pleasure!!

In July 2020 Primary Care Academy held a virtual summer school for Rochdale sixth-form students to obtain something akin to medical ‘work experience’, in the current climate where face-to-face work experience is impossible. The session was led by a local GP and PCA Clinical Fellow in Medical Education, Dr Mary Cheshire. It was an opportunity for students to consider what it involves to study and work as a doctor. The group observed and reflected on videos of doctors at work, using the RCGP ObserveGP online platform, and discussed issues such as medical ethics and the university application process. There was also an opportunity for students to chat with Mary about her work and training, and the highs and the lows of working as a GP. The students who attended generally had a positive experience of the course with all who attended rating it as either good or excellent. All of the group reflected on the mix of activities as being suitable. When asked whether the course met their expectations 95% answered yes to this question. An overall theme was that the students who attended gained a better understanding of the work of a GP and how a Doctor works with patients. The interactive format also was appreciated by those who attended the course with a mix of presentations and questions via Kahoot. The experience was designed to enthuse and inform students about a career in medicine, hopefully as a GP​​​​​. All of the students gave constructive feedback on the course and suggested how we could improve future sessions. Thank you to all of the group who attended, or helped to organise for their time and enthusiasm. Word Cloud Diagrams The Word Cloud diagrams illustrate the feedback we received from the group. The first shows all the positive aspects gained from the session and the second gives us constructive suggestions on we could improve our future offerings.