National framework for pandemic flu published
How to comment on the pandemic flu guidance
The UK
guidance is available. Comments can be sent to pandemicflu@dh.gsi.gov.uk or to The National Flu Pandemic Preparedness Team, Department of
Health, 452C Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH.
The Scottish
framework is available and
comments can be sent to pandemicflu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or to The
Pandemic Flu Co-ordination Team, Health Department, Scottish Executive,
3E.S. St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG.
Comments should be received by 16 May 2007 |
During an influenza pandemic, pharmacists will have a critical role in ensuring an effective community-based response, minimising disruption and maintaining essential services, according to draft guidance published by the Department of Health.
Primary care professionals, including GPs, pharmacists, community nurses
and supporting service providers, should participate actively in the
development of plans for local health services, and all NHS organisations
and contractors should ensure they have continuity plans in place, it
says.
The guidance indicates that the Department of Health is working on proposals
to widen the groups of staff who are able to prescribe and dispense medicines
during a pandemic and says that further guidance will be issued in due
course. It adds that the DoH also plans to make regulatory provision
for alternative prescription and supply arrangements during a pandemic.
The guidance includes a national framework, which is intended to replace
previous plans issued by UK health departments, plus several supporting
documents, including an ethical framework, guidance on provision of health
care in the community setting in England as well as guidance for acute
hospitals, adult social care and ambulance services. Although the national
framework provides for a consistent UK-wide approach, some differences
in operational arrangements apply in the devolved administrations. The
Scottish Executive Health Department has published its own draft framework
based on the
UK guidance. Wales is following the UK guidance.
The national framework indicates that most influenza sufferers will be
assessed and treated in the community. It explains that a national flu
hotline number will be publicised through which people will be assessed
and, if found to be symptomatic, given a reference number and asked to
send a representative to collect antiviral medication from a designated
distribution centre.
The English guidance for providing health care in a community setting
states that, within 24 hours of a UK alert level 2 being announced (sporadic
cases in the UK), each primary care trust will receive an initial allocation
of two weeks’ supply of oseltamivir based on its resident population
numbers and assuming a 25 per cent clinical attack rate. Storage, onward
cascade to distribution points and subsequent distribution arrangements
should address the need to protect stock and staff, and be made in consultation
with the police and local pharmacy advisers, it says.
In Scotland, limited amounts of the national stockpile are currently
predistributed to local health boards (5 per cent to mainland boards
and 10 per cent to the islands). Main stock will not be made available
until UK alert level 2 is announced.
Pharmacies should consider how they will minimise the potential for their
premises to spread the virus, including the availability of handwashing
facilities, tissue disposal and reducing the risk of droplet spread in
seated areas.
The national framework also recommends that PCTs start to identify and
sign up volunteers, such as health professionals who have recently retired
or are on a career break, to provide support in the event of a pandemic.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating
Committee and Community Pharmacy Wales, have published joint guidance
for community pharmacists on service continuity planning (PDF 160K). |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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