Influenza Pandemic Planning
Information and guidance on pandemic flu planning and preparedness on this website is currently under review and will be revised in the coming months to reflect the lessons learned from the overview of the NI health response to swine flu, and also the wider review of the UK swine flu response.
Regular flu bulletins have now ceased as flu activity has declined and will recommence during the flu season in the Autumn.
Swine Flu and the coming winter
The Department will continue to encourage people over the age of 6 months in clinical "at risk" groups identified during the swine flu pandemic to receive the swine flu/ H1N1 vaccine during the coming spring and summer. This includes people aged 65 and over and in a clinical risk group (but not healthy people aged 65 and over), pregnant women, household contacts of immunocompromised individuals and front line health and social care workers.
These people are at particular risk if they become infected with the virus or, in the case of front line health and social care workers, may expose "at risk" patients to infection. Vaccination of these groups will provide protection against the possible early re-emergence of swine flu H1N1 later this year. Vaccination offers the best protection for those at risk of complications from influenza.
Those who have already been vaccinated are likely to remain protected for the coming winter and possibly longer. The vaccine may also provide protection should a "drift" in the genetic make-up of the virus occur and the disease becomes more severe.
The protection afforded by the vaccine will stand us in good stead for the coming winter when the swine flu virus is expected to be the main circulating flu virus.
Current information relating to pandemic influenza can be viewed on NI Direct by clicking the link below.
Guidance
A revised Northern ireland Contingency Plan for Health Response for an Influenza Pandemic issued on 25 November 2008.
This document will be accompanied by a range of supporting guidance to assist pandemic planning in: acute hospitals; maternity services; mental health services; social care; Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and dental practitioners.
The guidance is available by clicking on the links below.
- Appendix 1 25% Health Care Impact (PDF 29KB)
- Appendix 1 35% Health Care Impact (PDF 28KB)
- Appendix 1 50% Health Care Impact (PDF 29KB)
Guidance on preparing Acute Hospitals in Northern Ireland
Guidance on preparing Maternity Services
To view the most up to date guidance on Swine Flu and Pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists please use the link below.
Guidance on the provision of Healthcare in a Primary and Community Care setting in Northern Ireland
Guidance for Personal Social Services Providers in the Statutory and Indepenent Sector
Guidance on preparing Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland
Guidance for Health and Social Care Trusts regarding Human Resources
Guidance for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and their staff
Guidance for Dental Practitioners
- Covering Letter to Dental Practitioners on Pandemic Flu Guidance (PDF 749KB)
- Guidance for Primary Care Dental Staff (PDF 788KB)
- Delivery of and contract arrangements for Primary Care Dentistry (PDF 161 KB)
- Pandemic Influenza Business Continuity Plan for Dental Practices (PDF 70KB)
- Pandemic Flu for Dental Practices weekly record sheet (PDF 29.5KB)
Guidance for Nursing and Residential Homes
Guidance for Domiciliary Care Providers
Guidance for Third Sector Organisations
- Letter to Chief Executives of NICVA, VDA, CO3 (PDF 223KB)
- Third Sector Organisations Guidance (PDF 182KB)
Guidance on Managing Demand and Capacity in Health Care Organisations
Following endorsement for use in Northern Ireland by the DHSSPS Minister, a copy of the Department of Health document Pandemic Influenza: Managing Demand and Capacity in Health Care Organisations (Surge) was circulated with a covering letter to Chief Executives of stakeholder organisations on 15 May 2009. The covering letter and guidance is available by clicking on the links below.
- Letter to Chief Executives of PHA, HSCB, PCC & BSO (PDF 83KB)
- Pandemic Influenza: Managing Demand and Capacity in Health Care Organisations (Surge) (PDF 1.83MB)
Report of the Swine Flu Critical Care Clinical Group and Key Learning Points for Future Surge Planning
As part of learning from swine flu, an operational report has also been published from the Swine Flu Critical Care Clinical Group. This report builds on the work done to increase critical care capacity during the swine flu response and incorporates key learning points for future surge planning.
Revised National Framework for Pandemic Flu
On the 22nd November 2007, the Secretary of State for Health launched a revised National Framework for Pandemic Flu for consultation. An ethical framework has also been issued to assist planners in making the difficult decisions brought about by a pandemic. This guidance is available by clicking on the links below.
Infection Control Guidance
DHSSPS endorses the infection control guidance which the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has produced for the health sector and available on the HPA's website.
Copies of the advice for Hospitals and Primary Care and the advice for Critial Care are included here for viewing and download.
- Guidance for infection control in Hospitals and Primary Care settings (PDF 614KB)
- Guidance for infection control in Critical Care (PDF 420KB)
The HPA have also produced infection control advice for non-health sectors and this is available on the HPA website.
