Protest Activity Across England – Advice From The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
August 2024
Further to the recent email from Gavin Boyle, ICB Chief Executive about the shocking violent disorder over recent days please find below information for colleagues working in Community Pharmacies in South Yorkshire.
You will be aware that further protests may be likely, and information is being shared widely on social media about potential locations and this will, rightly, be causing concern for you and your staff. We are also sharing this message with Doncaster pharmacies as it is not known whether the actions taking place will spread.
The ICB is liaising with South Yorkshire Police and currently with the exception of one site, there is no intelligence to suggest that any health facilities will be the focus of protests, however, if you receive any threats or have concerns, please act accordingly – notify the police as appropriate and advise the SY Primary Care Team. The situation is evolving rapidly, and we will keep you updated if further issues arise.
Community Pharmacy England has issued some helpful guidance:
If your pharmacy is in an area which is being affected by protests, follow any guidance being provided by the police or local government to protect yourself, staff, patients and premises.
Liaise with other local businesses or local business representative organisations, who may be sharing information provided by the police or other authorities.
Pharmacies may have to temporarily close if that is advised by police or it is judged that your staff and patients are at risk. In those circumstances, please let the primary care team at your Integrated Care Board (ICB) know about this as soon as possible and then follow the usual contractual notices for reporting emergency closures as soon as you are able.
For Community Pharmacy in South Yorkshire, please contact:
Paul.barringer@nhs.net, nick.germain@nhs.net and ensure you copy (cc) in syicb.syprimarycare@nhs.net to all emails.
Guidance on managing a temporary pharmacy closure can be found here. You may also need to implement parts of your business continuity plan.
We stand with practices taking a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse of practice staff or patients. Please follow usual guidance managing any incidences of abuse in practices. If you need any support, please contact the above members of the SY primary care team or LPC. We encourage any practice staff who experience, witness or are involved in hate crime to report it to South Yorkshire Police, if you see a crime in progress or if someone is in immediate danger call 999.
Whilst there is no intelligence indicating widespread disruption practices may wish to undertake a risk assessment, if they have not already done so, and take some sensible precautions that may include:
- limiting lone working and home visits as indicated
- ensuring all staff and particularly reception staff are aware of how to manage any incidents or abuse in the practice and how to report these.
- reminding staff to remain vigilant and take sensible steps to support each other , for example leaving work together and supporting vulnerable staff members and considering if any situations expose them to additional risk.
- ensure staff are aware of the support and assistance available to practice staff and highlighted in Gavin Boyle’s message to practices
South Yorkshire Police can be contacted in the following ways:
999 – if threat to life
101 – if not an emergency
SYP Portal – if anyone has any evidence they wish to submit https://mipp.police.uk/operation/14SY24C05-PO1