The Northern Ireland Contingency Plan for the Health Response to an Influenza Pandemicaims to guide and support health and social care organisations in their contingency planning and preparations for an influenza pandemic.
It is accompanied by supporting guidance for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, social care, acute hospitals and mental health services.
The plan describes the likely challenges facing the delivery of healthcare and clearly sets out the actions required by key stakeholders at each stage of a pandemic.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said: “The revised plan sets out the Department’s strategic approach to limiting the internal spread of a pandemic and to minimise health, economic and social harm.
“It will assist all those involved in health and social care in Northern Ireland in preparing pandemic plans that can cope with a reasonable worst case scenario and ensure that arrangements are robust and resilient.”
A pandemic flu Health Implementation Plan for Northern Ireland was first published in 2005. Following the launch of the new UK National Framework in 2007, to which Northern Ireland contributed, the plan has been revised to reflect the new national framework and considers the implications for the health sector here.
Dr McBride continued: “The pandemic threat and UK level of preparedness are constantly evolving. This framework is live and will be reviewed and updated regularly in accordance with World Health Organisation guidance.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The plan and supporting guidance is available at: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/phealth/php/infectious_diseases/pandemicflu
2. This guidance is specifically aimed at the health and social care sector. It will be used by Trusts to draft and update their pandemic flu plans to ensure that they are robust and resilient.
3. The documents being released are:
Northern Ireland Contingency Plan for Health Response to an Influenza Pandemic
This document describes the department’s strategic approach to, and preparations for, an influenza pandemic. It provides general information on the likely impact and sets out some of the key assumptions for use in response planning by the health sector.
Pandemic influenza: Guidance on preparing acute hospitals in Northern Ireland
This guidance is designed to assist health and social care acute hospitals in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic. It sets out the planning elements that Trusts should be considering as their contribution to developing local preparedness.
Pandemic influenza: Guidance for Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and their staff
This provides guidance for NIAS to prepare for, respond to and recover from an influenza pandemic. Their clinical expertise will be required to support the assessment, treatment, and referral of patients.
Planning for Pandemic Influenza in Personal Social Services
The guidance is for personal social services providers in the statutory and independent sector to minimise the impact on local social care services and the people who use them.
Pandemic Influenza: Guidance on preparing mental health services in Northern Ireland
The purpose of this guidance is to assist mental health service providers in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic.
4. Influenza pandemics are natural phenomena which have occurred three times in the last century. It is highly likely that another influenza pandemic will occur at some stage, however it is not possible to predict its exact timing or precise nature of its impact.
5. Pandemic influenza occurs when a new influenza virus subtype emerges or re-emerges which is markedly different from recently circulating strains; is able to infect people; is readily transmissible from person to person; and capable of causing illness in a high proportion of those infected.
6. For all media queries, please contact Sarah Williams, DHSSPS Information Office on 028 9052 2841 or 07791 149246. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.
