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Primary care bulletin 22 July 2026 |
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Welcome to this week's primary care bulletin, covering the eight north west London boroughs:
Actions: - Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework published.
Clinical updates: - Chief Executive Officer appointment announced - West and north London patients report positive experience of general practice in latest GP Patient Survey - Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is now accepting routine orthopaedic referrals - identifying pressure care needs when booking non-emergency patient transport - adult out-of-hours Mental Health Crisis Response Team.
Education and training: - building Strategic Commissioning Narratives: Shaping local system development session - help shape future neighbourhood cancer care.
If you have any submissions for this bulletin please complete this Google form. Any enquiries regarding the primary care bulletin should be sent to nclicb.communications@nhs.net with "primary care bulletin" contained within the subject line.
The next bulletin will go out on Wednesday 5 August 2026. The deadline for submissions is 3pm on Monday 3 August 2026.
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Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework published
The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework (MSF) has been published by the Government, setting out a roadmap to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% over the next decade. The framework identifies 12 priority actions to improve outcomes and address health inequalities, alongside a longer-term vision for cardiovascular services. A technical annex has also been published.
Primary care teams are encouraged to review the framework and technical annex to understand the implications for local delivery and service improvement. |
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Chief Executive Officer appointment announced
We are pleased to announce that, following a national recruitment process, Katie Fisher has been appointed as the substantive CEO for NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board. Katie has been acting as the interim Chief Executive, appointed in January 2026 on a nine‑month secondment, from her substantive role as Chief Executive of NHS South West London.
A nurse by background, she has more than two decades of senior leadership experience within the NHS, charitable organisations, and the private sector. Her previous roles include being Chief Executive Officer at Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals, and at West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Find out more on the NHS West and North London website. |
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West and north London patients report positive experience of general practice in latest GP Patient Survey
Results from the 2026 GP Patient Survey show that patients across the west and north London boroughs continue to report positive experiences of general practice. Across the NHS West and North London boroughs, 75% of respondents said they had a good overall experience of their GP practice, while 73% said they had a good overall experience of contacting their practice.
This is the first year that survey results have been reported for the combined NHS West and North London boroughs, following the merger of NHS North Central London and NHS North West London.
Because of this change, the 2026 results cannot be directly compared with previous years. However, survey findings from both NHS North Central London and NHS North West London showed improvements in patient experience between 2024 and 2025. In NHS North Central London, the proportion of patients reporting a good overall experience of their GP practice increased from 72% in 2024 to 73% in 2025. In NHS North West London, it increased from 74% to 75% over the same period. Patients' experience of contacting their GP practice also improved, rising from 67% to 69% in NHS North Central London and from 70% to 71% in NHS North West London.
The survey, which includes information on patient experience of general practice, NHS dentistry and community pharmacy, highlights the ongoing work taking place across primary care to improve access and patient experience.
Improvements such as the rollout of digital telephony and triage systems in general practice, alongside increasing use of online services, are helping to make it easier for patients to access care and contact their practice in the way that suits them best.
Read more about the survey results on the GP Patient Survey website. |
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Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is now accepting routine orthopaedic referrals
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) is now accepting routine elective orthopaedic referrals from practices across the west and north London boroughs via NHS e-RS. As a specialist elective-only provider, RNOH is supporting High Volume, Low Complexity (HVLC) activity to improve access to planned care and reduce waiting times. Referral pathways include primary hip and knee, spine (including injections and selected minimally invasive procedures), selected foot and ankle, as well as selected shoulder and elbow conditions. Patients benefit from a dedicated elective environment, streamlined pathways and a reduced risk of short-notice cancellations. All referrals are clinically triaged with timely feedback to practices. |
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Identifying pressure care needs when booking non-emergency patient transport
Clinical teams are reminded of the importance of identifying and communicating any actual or potential pressure care needs when arranging non-emergency patient transport (NEPT) on behalf of patients.
Most patients referred for NHS-funded healthcare services are expected to travel independently using private or public transport, with support from family or friends where appropriate. However, patients who meet the national eligibility criteria and whose clinical needs require supported transport may be entitled to access NEPT.Where GP practices or clinical teams are booking NEPT on behalf of a patient, please ensure that the NEPT call handler is informed of any known or potential pressure care issues. Sharing this information enables the transport provider to make appropriate arrangements to support the patient's safety, comfort and clinical needs during their journey.
This reminder follows learning identified through a safeguarding review undertaken by the Hillingdon Safeguarding Adults Board after a patient developed a pressure ulcer during a non-Emergency Patient Transport journey. One of the recommendations from the review was to strengthen the booking process by ensuring patients' skin integrity needs are consistently identified and communicated to the transport provider, helping to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
Please see the crib sheet (Word) and national eligibility criteria (PDF) for further information.
For questions about the Non-Emergency Patient Transport booking process or eligibility, please email Mark Browne. |
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Adult out-of-hours Mental Health Crisis Response Team - Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster, Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon
CNWL has an overnight Mental Health Crisis Response Team for adults in Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster, Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon. The team operates every night from 8pm to 8:30am. They can visit people in the community and help them return home from emergency departments if they require ongoing mental health crisis support. Referrals will be taken from our Single Point of Access as well as local Home Treatment and Psychiatric Liaison teams. For London Boroughs, phone us on 0800 0234 650, and you can also email cnw-tr.spa@nhs.net. |
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Building Strategic Commissioning Narratives: Shaping local system development session
Central London Community Healthcare Training Hub is offering a learning opportunity focused on the future of strategic commissioning in the context of NHS reforms and the 10-Year Health Plan.The session will explore key themes including neighbourhood and system-wide working, influencing and stakeholder engagement, and practical strategies for leading local change. Designed for those involved in commissioning, transformation and service development, it aims to support participants in shaping effective commissioning narratives and understanding their role in developing integrated local health and care systems.
Find out more and register your interest via the training hub website. Please note the date hasn't been confirmed. |
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Help shape future neighbourhood cancer care
RM Partners Cancer Alliance is recruiting participants for a neighbourhood cancer simulation taking place on 29 – 30 September 2026 in Wembley. Bringing together system partners from health, local authorities, community services, the voluntary sector and lived experience groups, the simulation will test opportunities to deliver the NHS three shifts for people with cancer, with a particular focus on the treatment and recovery phase of care.Colleagues are invited to take part in one of three simulation layers: - care and coordination – frontline professionals from health, care, cancer and community services, and the voluntary sector
- operational management – operational leaders, service managers, workforce leads and coordination professionals
- place leadership – senior leaders and decision-makers from across the system.
The simulation aims to test new models of care, including evidence-based community interventions and digitally enabled care models, to support more cancer care closer to home.
For further information, see the one-page summary (PDF) and FAQs (PDF), or email Sophie Ruiz, Programme Lead for Early Diagnosis. Interested colleagues can register via the expression of interest form. |
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