New Service Streamlining Notifiable Diseases Reporting Process

The launch of the UKHSA’s ‘Report a Notifiable Disease’ service provides a practical and necessary solution to a process that has often felt cumbersome. By streamlining disease notification, this service helps practices save time while ensuring compliance

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Enhanced Primary Care

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched an innovative online service, ‘Report a Notifiable Disease,’ designed to simplify and expedite the notification of infectious diseases. For many GP practices, meeting the legal obligation to report suspected or confirmed cases of notifiable diseases has historically been a complex and time-consuming task. This new service presents a valuable opportunity to streamline the process, lessen administrative burdens and improve overall efficiency.

What’s Changing?

The UKHSA’s new online service replaces traditional reporting methods with a user-friendly form for notifications. This form gathers all essential information and submits it directly to the UKHSA, representing a major improvement that saves time and minimises the risk of delays or missed notifications.

What Does Your Practice Need to Do?

Make sure the pop-ups or alerts in your clinical system for notifiable diseases are accurate and up to date. These alerts provide valuable reminders for clinicians when a reportable condition is suspected or diagnosed.

Assess your practice’s current policy for managing notifiable diseases to ensure it aligns with the new online reporting process. This is an excellent opportunity to update your policies in accordance with legal requirements and public health best practices, which will be advantageous during your next CQC visit. Additionally, ensure that all clinical staff are informed about the new reporting tool and understand when and how to utilise it.

To help facilitate this transition, practice managers can find a template email to communicate these changes to their team on the Enhanced Primary Care website. This resource provides a straightforward way to ensure that all staff members are informed about the new reporting process and understand its importance for compliance and efficiency.