This snapshot taken on 05/02/2008, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus, which people have no immunity to, emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza. The Department of Health is working to support NHS preparedness and to reduce the impact of pandemic flu on the UK population.
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.
As part of a process to ensure the Pandemic Influenza Scientific Advsiroy Group (SAG) is more flexible and independent, a recruitment procedure for an external Chair has been completed. The Department of Health is delighted to announce Professor Sir Gordon Duff has agreed to take on that role from January 2008 onwards for a period of three years. More details can be found in the press release issued on 7 January 2008.
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.
Published: 17 January 2008
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.
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).
Published: 22 November 2007
Cabinet Office paper summarising the wide-ranging evidence behind strategies to respond to pandemic influenza.
Published: 29 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.
The organisation of the Pandemic Influenza Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) is currently being revised.
Published: 17 October 2007
A range of new infection control training materials has been produced, including a summary of the guidance for infection control in healthcare settings during an influenza pandemic, posters on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and a short training video (added 17 October 2007).
Published: 17 October 2007
Advises of the new governace arrangements and progress with the national pandemic planning programme and the additional funds being made available
Published: 3 December 2007
The Home Office has produced draft guidance for consultation (closing 30 November 2007) which sets out proposals for the management of potentially large numbers of deaths during an influenza pandemic.
Professor Lindsey Davies was appointed as National Director of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness in April 2006. She is also a senior doctor within the Department of Health.
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily from person to person, causes serious illness and can sweep across the country and around the world in a very short time.
We cannot know which groups will be affected by pandemic flu until the virus emerges. However, we know from previous pandemics that a future one is likely to have a major impact worldwide.
Six distinct phases have been defined by the World Health Organization to help global preparedness planning. The present international situation is categorised as phase 3: a virus new to humans is causing infections, but does not spread easily from one person to another. The UK alert level is 0 as there are no cases of pandemic flu in the UK.
The Committee on Ethical Aspects of Pandemic Influenza (CEAPI) has been set up to advise on the ethical issues in health and social care and in public health arising from an influenza pandemic.
The main role of the Pandemic Influenza Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) is to advise the UK Government on scientific matters relating to the health response to an influenza pandemic.
A guide to provide a better understanding of pandemic influenza (flu), its likely impact on the UK and the Government's plans to respond.
Avian and pandemic influenza: Factsheet for British nationals travelling overseas.
