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For further discussion and ongoing debate please refer to the forum, also for future reference please upload your contingency plans to GAP to broaden the knowledge base.
HPA Weekly update - 17 September 2009
KEY POINTS
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The rates of flu-like illness and related activity have started to increase in England. The increase was mainly seen in school age children.
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Hospitalisations of people with suspected pandemic flu in England have levelled overall. The majority of cases continue to be mild.
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Two samples from UK patients have been shown to have the genetic change associated with oseltamivir resistance. Both were from immunocompromised patients. One has been shown to be resistant, the other is undergoing further tests to confirm resistance. Globally over 10,000 specimens have been tested and 23 have been shown to be resistant to oseltamivir.
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Interpretation of data to produce estimates on the number of new cases continues to be subject to a considerable amount of uncertainty. HPA modelling gives an estimate of 5,000 new cases in England last week (range 3,000 to 11,000).
This estimate incorporates data from National Pandemic Flu Service and GP consultations.
PEOPLE DISPLAYING FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS
If one of your staff, students or visitors displaying flu-like symptoms, ask them to stay at home or in their place of residence and call their local GP or Pandemic Flu on 0800 1 513 513. For those with internet access you can log onto the website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION
The most accurate public information on the current situation can be found here:
NHS Information Line: 0800 1513513
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) will be publishing updated advice on their websites:
Specific guidance on Infection Control can be found here:
Details of the National Framework for pandemic flu can be found here:
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
The risk of infection can be reduced significantly by ensuring good standards of personal hygiene. Information relating to the NHS ‘Catch it, Bin It, Kill It’ campaign provides guidance on this
Check/update your business continuity plans. Plans should be based on the assumption that your establishment will remain open throughout the pandemic, although there may be a need to scale down certain operations. You should consider
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how your institution would stay open, and how you might reduce operations, should it be necessary;
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Ensure you know who to contact at your local Health Protection Agency.
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Make sure there are contact lists of names, phone numbers and addresses for all staff and students.
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Agree a plan for communications with staff, students, parents and any other key stakeholders for use if a pandemic is formally confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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Consider your policies for staff absences, e.g. to include staff taking time off to care for a sick member of their family.
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You must ensure that your plans take account of the needs of students with learning difficulties to ensure that they can identify symptoms and that they are clear on the precautions that can be taken. Information for residential special schools and colleges can be found in section 2D of the DCSF guidance: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/13532/FullGuidance.pdf
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You must ensure that your plans also take account of the needs of international students.
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You should keep in close contact with your Student Union, if you have one. Students should be encouraged to consider setting up ‘flu buddy schemes’, so that those who have not been affected by the virus can support those that have (every effort should be made to ensure that physical contact is kept to a minimum). This may be of particular value for students living alone with no local or family support.
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Consider how you would manage any media interest. Consider pre-preparing a number of standard responses and identify a number of media spokespersons. Ensure that media communications are managed centrally.
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You and your governing body should ensure that all concerned are clear about the decision-making responsibilities and the process for keeping the institution open, reducing operations, or for implementing its closure.
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You should assess the impact of the disease upon your organisations.
Primarily you should focus on:
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Taking decisions to minimise the spread of the disease
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Taking decisions to ensure student and staff welfare
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Analysing the potential impact upon the day to day operations
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Exploring ways in which these may be maintained
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Managing internal and external communications
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Considering whether there are services that could be scaled up/down, and/or suspended should it prove necessary
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Determining priorities and resourcing day to day operations
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Prioritising demands
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Consideration of any longer term implications upon the organisation
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Authorising additional resources to support critical services
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Analysing the impact to the medium/long term corporate objective
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Setting the agenda for reinstatement of any suspended university or college activity following a pandemic
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Protecting the reputation and goodwill of the institution
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Managing relationships with partners
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Supply chain reliance on particular critical suppliers e.g. fuel, cleaning contractors, caterers.
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Checking the coverage of your insurance policies
As part of the response, institutions should consider any organisational ‘trigger points’ for action. These will include but are not limited to:
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Severe shortage of lecturing staff
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Severe shortage of cleaning staff
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Severe shortage of maintenance staff
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Inadequate numbers of security staff
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Severe disruption to public transport network
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Power cuts or other utility failure
If you would like to contact DIUS for further information please contact us:
Universities, University Colleges or other HEIs
Colleges
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