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Swine Flu Advice
Pandemic Influenza Checklist for Businesses
To assist in developing and reviewing plans, the Government has developed the following checklist specifically regarding pandemic influenza. It identifies important and specific activities which organisations can do to prepare for a pandemic as well as where more general guidance will be provided by the Government. Directed mainly at medium and large businesses, some elements will be of use to smaller businesses.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/132464/060516flubcpchecklist.pdf
Pandemic influenza workplace guidance - HSE
The following link provides information for work places from the Health and Safety Executive.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/pandflu.htm
Introductory advice to staff on planning for pandemic influenza
This document can be used to raise awareness and to keep you informed of the risks and the planning work which is underway. All the information contained in this document is from published sources (listed at end).
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/132829/intro_staffadvice_flu_planning.pdf
Pandemic influenza – risk assessment in the occupational setting
The Health Protection agency and the department of Health have worked closely with the healthcare sector and certain non-healthcare services, such as the police and fire and rescue services, to develop pandemic influenza infection control guidance for specific occupational settings (available at
www.ukresilience.gov.uk/pandemicflu/guidance/sector_specific.aspx). However, it is not possible to outline detailed pandemic influenza infection control guidance for every occupation or to cover every conceivable scenario where a person might be exposed to the risk of infection from flu.
The National Pandemic Flu Service
A self-care service which will give people with pandemic swine flu symptoms fast access to antivirals has been launched by Health Secretary Andy Burnham.
The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new dedicated website (www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu) and phoneline (0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (Textphone)) for people to check their symptoms and get a unique number which will give them access to antivirals if necessary.
People who have swine flu symptoms will be given a unique access number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is. They should then ask a flu friend – a friend or relative who doesn’t have swine flu – to go and pick up their antivirals.
The flu friend must show their own ID as well as that of the patient. The authorisation number and ID information will be checked to ensure it matches the information provided when the assessment of symptoms was completed.
Anyone who suspects they have swine flu is advised not to go to their GP or A&E.
People should contact their doctor direct rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service if:
- they have a serious underlying illness;
- they are pregnant;
- they have a sick child under one year old;
- their condition suddenly gets much worse; or
- if their condition is still getting worse after 7 days (5 for a child).
Andy Burnham said:
“The National Pandemic Flu Service will give patients access to information and antivirals as quickly as possible. It will free up GPs so they can focus their efforts on helping those in at risk groups and patients with other illnesses.
“People can still speak to their GP if they are concerned. In fact - it is important to stress that people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and parents with children under the age of one should speak to their GP if they have symptoms.
“For the vast majority of people, swine flu has been mild. Some people find that they get better by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and taking over the counter flu medication.”
Up to two thousand call operators will be trained for a minimum of three hours. Less experienced call operators will be trained for a day. Strict industry standard regulations are in place when employing staff. These include the right to work in the UK (therefore no illegal immigrants), satisfactory employment references and satisfactory character references.
Doctors from the Royal College of General Practitioners will have a special liaison role with each of these call centres and will feed back problems or concerns that arise during the operation of the service.
As swine flu spreads, it is important to be able to recognise its symptoms. People who have two of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38° C and above or feels hot may have swine flu.
The typical symptoms are:
- sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38C/100.4F or above), and
- sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include: - headache,
- tiredness,
- chills,
- aching muscles,
- limb or joint pain,
- diarrhoea or stomach upset,
- sore throat,
- runny nose,
- sneezing,
- loss of appetite
Scotland and Wales have not yet needed to switch on their National Pandemic Flu Service. This situation is being kept under constant review and the Service will be opted into if needed.
People in Scotland who are worried about flu-like symptoms should continue to contact their GP or NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24.
In Wales, if symptoms are causing concern, or people are in an at risk group such as those with heart and lung disease, children under 5 or pregnant women, they should phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or phone their GP.
People in Northern Ireland who are worried about flu-like symptoms should stay at home and continue to contact their GP or the Northern Ireland helpline on 0800 0514 142 which operates daily from 8am-8pm.
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