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Department of Health

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Guidance and information published for health professionals and the public regarding pandemic influenza.

Health and Safety Executive

Published: February 2008

HSE has developed general guidance for employers and employees to use if the Chief Medical Officer declares a pandemic flu within the UK. 

Infection control guidance

Published: 30 January 2008

Infection control guidance in the event of a flu pandemic is now available for some non-NHS sectors.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Department of Health (DH) have worked with various organisations to develop guidance for the following: funeral directors, the hospitality industry, fire and rescue services, cleaning and refuse staff and the police.

Each of the guidance has standard text, which explains what pandemic flu is, how it is spread and how you can protect yourself and others from it. It then addresses issues relevant to the particular sector. For example, the guidance for the hospitality industry includes sections for hotel managers on decontaminating hotel rooms and the advice to give to guests.

NHS National Workshop

The NHS National Workshop on Pandemic Flu was held on 26 November 2007.

Presentations

Published: 06/12/2007

Slides from the three main presentations,

Workshop summaries

Published: 01/02/2008

Pandemic flu: A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic

Published: 22 November 2007

This document describes the Government's strategic approach for responding to an influenza pandemic published jointly by the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office. It provides background information and guidance to public and private organisations developing response plans. It updates and expands upon health advice and information contained in previous plans issued by UK health departments and is intended to replace those documents.

Supporting guidance includes an ethical framework and operating guidance for adult social care, ambulance services, community and acute healthcare.

Invitation to comment

Published: 22 November 2007

The UK’s plans for responding to an influenza pandemic are set out in the recently published Pandemic Flu: A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic.

To assist responders in developing their local plans further draft guidance has been produced with the participation and advice of subject experts and representatives from key stakeholder groups.

We are seeking wider comments on these drafts and would particularly welcome views and contributions from those individuals and organisations involved in pandemic influenza planning and preparedness. These will be collated and analysed in depth and used to inform final guidance on this issue, which will be available on the DH website in the summer.

We would be grateful for your comments by 22 February 2008.

Scientific evidence paper

Published: 22 November 2007

Cabinet Office paper summarising the wide-ranging evidence behind strategies to respond to pandemic influenza.

Medicines consultation

Published: 22 November 2007

The consultation on possible changes to medicines and associated legislation for use during a pandemic suggests ways to maintain people's access to regular essential medicines in this period and looks at the amendments which are required to support the operational framework. It asks when these changes might be brought into force and when they should be lifted, how far existing safeguards should be relaxed to ensure access and whether there are other barriers to access that should be considered. The consultation ends on 26 February 2008 and views are welcomed.

Pandemic influenza: guidance for infection control in hospitals and primary care settings

Published: 22 November 2007

This guidance document replaces the infection control guidance published in October 2005.  The changes and amendments in this edition are detailed on page 4 and include updated advice on aerosol- generating procedures.  This advice takes into consideration and addresses the categorisation of such procedures in the recently published interim guidance from the World Health Organization on 'Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care'(June 2007).

Exercise Winter Willow - lesson learned

Published: 30/08/2007 10:44

Feedback from all levels has indicated that the exercise was helpful in checking and validating plans and communication channels. Action is already underway to ensure that lessons identified are used to review and revise plans and procedures.

Review of the evidence base underpinning clinical countermeasures and risk from H5N1

Published: 22/08/2007 12:19

The Pandemic Influenza Scientific Advisory Group has recently reviewed the evidence base underpinning several clinical countermeasures, antibiotics, antivirals, vaccines and masks, as well as the risk of a pandemic originating from the avian H5N1 virus.

NHS national workshop on pandemic flu

Following the success of the NHS National Workshop on Pandemic Influenza held in June 2006, the Department of Health hosted another event on 5 March 2007.

‘Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases’

Published:  26 February 2007

The Coughs and Sneezes campaign aims to raise awareness of the need for good respiratory hygiene and to encourage the public to follow correct coughing and sneezing etiquette. It forms part of our pre-pandemic influenza preparedness planning and is the latest initiative to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses. This poster was produced as part of the campaign and was sent to a variety of settings including; GP surgeries and health centres, hospital pharmacies, health promotion units, NHS walk in centres, police stations, libraries and commercial pharmacies.

'Wet, Soap, Wash, Rinse, Dry'

Published: 19 December 2007

This is the first in a range of general hygiene communications, which forms an important part of our pre-pandemic influenza preparedness planning. The enclosed poster is being sent to a variety of NHS workplaces including: GP surgeries, health centres, pharmacies, health promotion units, health protection units, A& E departments and NHS walk in centres.

Clinical guidelines for patients with an influenza like illness during an influenza pandemic

Published: 6 June 2006

This document contains provisional guidelines for health professionals regarding the treatment of pandemic influenza, agreed by experts from the British Thoracic Society, the British Infection Society and the Health Protection Agency.

Bird flu (Avian influenza): Public health advice for those going to or returning from Bird flu-affected areas

Published: February 2006

This leaflet and accompanying poster provides public health advice for those going to or returning from Bird flu-affected areas. It contaings information on this potentially serious disease and the precautions you should take to help protect yourself.

Pandemic flu: Key facts (October 2005 edition)

Published: 19 October 2005

This document supplies key information about the pandemic influenza (flu), how it is caused, who is at risk and what the government is doing to prepare for a flu pandemic.

Explaining pandemic flu: A guide from the Chief Medical Officer (October 2005 edition)

Published: 19 October 2005

Provides professionals and members of the public with a better understanding of pandemic influenza (flu), its likely impact on the UK and their country's plans to respond.

Pandemic flu: important information for you and your family (October 2005 edition)

Published: 19 October 2005

An influenza (flu) pandemic is currently being predicted by experts at the World Health Organisation. This leaflet describes pandemic flu, the risk of it occurring in this country, what makes it different from the ordinary flu we get every winter and what the UK is doing to prepare for a possible flu pandemic.

UK operational framework for stockpiling, distributing and using antiviral medicines in the event of pandemic influenza

Published: 21 September 2005

This framework sets out arrangements for the storage and distribution of antiviral medicines from national stockpiles and provides advice and information to support the development of effective local plans for making those medicines available to treat patients in the event of an influenza pandemic.

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