Responding to today’s NHS Appointments in General Practice data1, which shows that practices in England delivered 4.8 million more appointments in March than they did in February, BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey, said: 

NHSE/I has published a letter setting out the next steps and key priorities for vaccine deployment plans for weeks beginning 8 and 15 March. These include actions for immediate review, such as ensuring maximum penetration and uptake within the JCVI cohorts, second dose planning and delivery and preparations for vaccination in line with increased supply. All future second dose deliveries will be made 11 weeks after the corresponding first dose, and so providers should now start to book second dose appointments when making first dose bookings. 

The letter confirms that from 11 March, vaccine supply will increase substantially and be sustained at a higher level for several weeks. Therefore, from the week of 15 March vaccination sites are being asked to deliver around twice the level of the limited vaccine supply available this week and next. 

The voting period is now open for seats to the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) for a number of regions including Salford & Trafford, Manchester and Stockport

To submit your vote for any of the above seats please visit https://elections.bma.org.uk/

The Government has now published ‘Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all' – its white paper on new plans to reform the NHS, including proposals to make ICSs statutory and make major changes to way services are procured.