DH - Pandemic influenza: guidance for primary care trusts and primary care professionals on the provision of healthcare in a community setting in England - 18 Dec 08

Source

The purpose of this updated guidance is to assist primary care trusts (PCTs) in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic. It is also intended to be a useful document for primary care professionals such as those working in general practice, community pharmacy and nursing, and for partner agencies providing services in the community setting.

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Introduction

1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this guidance is to assist primary care trusts (PCTs) in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic. It is also intended to be a useful document for primary care professionals such as those working in general practice, community pharmacy and nursing, and for partner agencies providing services in the community setting.

The guidance is intended to provide general advice for planners, and to outline a model of care within which local plans should be developed.

Planners should be aware that the information available on pandemic influenza could change rapidly. Guidance is therefore continually being revised. It is important for planners to ensure that their plans reflect the principles underpinning the latest information.

1.2 Scope of the guidance
This guidance provides advice on preparing for and responding to an influenza pandemic in the community setting, which includes primary care provision in the context of the community or home. Advice on preparing residential settings for pandemic influenza can be found in the guidance document on adult social care (see list below).

This document is the updated version of the guidance that was originally published in November 2007. It is supplementary to Pandemic flu: A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic, and should be read in conjunction with it and other national guidance on pandemic influenza planning. These can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu (with some available from the Home Office, as indicated) and include the following:

• Responding to pandemic influenza: The ethical framework for policy and planning
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance on preparing acute hospitals in England
• An operational and strategic framework: Planning for pandemic influenza in adult social care
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance for ambulance services and their staff in England
• Guidance for pandemic influenza: Infection control in hospitals and primary care settings
• Pandemic influenza: Human resources guidance for the NHS
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance on preparing mental health services in England
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance on the delivery and contract arrangements for primary care dentistry
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance for dental practices
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance on preparing maternity services in England
• Pandemic influenza: Surge capacity and patient prioritisation in health services – provisional UK guidance
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance on planning for vulnerable groups
• Possible amendments to medicines and associated legislation during an influenza pandemic
• Pandemic influenza: Guidance on the management of death certification and cremation certification
• Planning for a possible influenza pandemic: A framework for planners preparing to manage deaths (Home Office)
• Planning for a possible influenza pandemic: Registrar General’s guidance on death registration services for Registration Service Managers and Practitioners (Home Office/General Register Office)
• Supporting people with long term conditions to self care: A guide to developing local strategies and good practice (a section on where to find further advice and case studies is given on pages 36–37)
• NHS emergency planning guidance 2005
• Strategic command arrangements for the NHS during a major incident

Specific guidance on surge capacity and patient prioritisation in health services and maternity services, as well as operational guidance for GP practices, has also been commissioned and final versions will be published in the near future and made available at www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu

This guidance is for England only. Parallel guidance has already been issued by the Scottish Government. The Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland will issue equivalent guidance in the near future. While there may be some differences in operational approach and organisational responsibilities, all four health departments are working closely to ensure a consistent approach wherever possible.
 

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