385: NHS Primary Care Bulletin - 16 April 2026

Introduction

This article summarises the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin for 16 April 2026, the weekly email update for teams in general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy, and optometry.

The latest bulletin highlights several important updates, including the upcoming National Practice Manager Day, the launch of the Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme in 2026, and the opening of the 2026/27 Dental Quality Improvement Programme. It discusses various emergency health initiatives and changes in benefit entitlements, all aimed at improving patient care and safety across primary care settings.

MenB vaccine dose two for Kent meningitis outbreak

Individuals who received the first dose of the MenB vaccine during the Kent meningitis outbreak are now due for their second dose. It is essential that this second dose is administered four weeks after the first to ensure effective protection against meningitis B. Students returning to universities can access their vaccinations at local clinics or through their GP practices. For more details, read the published letter.

COVID-19 vaccination claiming service changes

Starting in April 2026, the Calculating Quality Reporting Service (CQRS) will be restructured to facilitate payment claims for COVID-19 vaccinations administered by practices. All Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are encouraged to register for this service in preparation for its name change on 29 April 2026.

Updates to Universal Credit payments

As of 6 April 2026, new changes to Universal Credit payments mean that patients with severe health conditions may now qualify for the highest benefit entitlement. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not require GPs to provide additional evidence for these cases, as the DWP will directly request any necessary information from patients.

Docman duplicate mail document issues

NHS England acknowledges issues with duplicate documents in NHS Mail seen by practices using OneAdvanced’s Docman. Affected practices are advised to respond promptly to OneAdvanced communications for resolution. For support, contact OneAdvanced via their Customer Portal or Getting Support.

Importance of carrying Steroid Emergency Cards for Addison's disease

Health professionals are encouraged to remind patients with Addison's disease about the importance of carrying their Steroid Emergency Card. This card is crucial for informing emergency staff about necessary ongoing medication. Further information on obtaining these cards can be found on PCSE online and through the NHS Forms, Print, Exemptions, Cards and EIHC.

Digital Screening Quarterly Update for Q4 2025/26

The NHS is undergoing digital transformations within adult screening programmes, replacing outdated systems. The quarterly update shares progress across various screening programmes, and inquiries can be directed to england.digitalscreening@nhs.net.

National Practice Manager Day on 21 April

The inaugural National Practice Manager Day will take place on 21 April, with a short webinar hosted by the Institute of General Practice Management. This is an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contributions of practice managers. Register for the event or find out more.

Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme 2026

Applications for the Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme 2026 will be open from 27 April to 18 May. This programme aims to train pre-registration pharmacy technicians in community pharmacy settings. Details on national stakeholder engagement webinars are available as well.

2026/27 Dental Quality Improvement programme registration now open

The registration for the dental Quality Improvement programme for the 2026/27 year is open until 8 May 2026. Eligible practices must sign up via the contract management and payment system (Compass). Further guidance is provided on the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website.

COVID-19 2026 spring vaccination campaign

The 2026 COVID-19 spring vaccination campaign began on 13 April. All healthcare professionals are urged to continue discussing vaccine eligibility with patients. Resources for communications are available from the Campaign Resource Centre.

Minimum standards for keyworking services

NHS England has published the Minimum standards for keyworking services for autistic children and young people to aid integration care boards in commissioning services for children at risk of mental health hospital admissions.

Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England

The renewed Women’s Health Strategy outlines the governments commitment to enhancing women's health care within primary services across the next decade.

Thank you from NHS England’s Chief Executive

Sir James Mackey has expressed gratitude to staff for their dedication in maintaining NHS services during recent industrial actions by the British Medical Association, in a letter to colleagues.

Elective Single Point of Access webinar

A national webinar addressing practical issues related to the implementation of elective Single Point of Access (SPoA) will occur on 30 April. Participants can submit questions during the live Q&A session. Register here.

Register for NHS ConfedExpo 2026

NHS ConfedExpo 2026 will be held over 10-11 June, gathering healthcare leaders and professionals. View the agenda and book a pass.

Physical activity podcast series available

A new series of podcasts discussing ways to integrate physical activity into healthcare practice is now available. The final episode features discussions on how healthcare professionals can encourage patients to remain physically active. Listen to the series here.

Upcoming webinars and events summary

• 21 April - National Practice Manager Day Webinar

• 21 April, 12 - 12.30pm, Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme Webinar

• 22 April, 12:30 – 1:15pm, GatewayC Webinar on Breast Cancer Diagnosis

• 23 April, 8 - 8.30pm, Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme Webinar

• 30 April, 11.30 – 12.30pm, NHS England NHS App Webinar

• 30 April, 12-1pm, Implementing Elective SPoA Webinar

• 6 May, 10.30 – 12pm, AI Ambassador Network Meeting

• 10-11 June 2026, NHS ConfedExpo

Content in this article is drawn from the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin. Patient.info edits and formats the updates to provide a clear, accessible archive for professionals. For the original email, click here.