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Influenza Pandemic Planning

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.
If you are looking for Swine Flu specific guidance it is available by viewing the Swine Flu Communications page.

Northern Ireland Contingency Plan and Appendices

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

Guidance for Nursing and Residential Homes

Guidance for Domiciliary Care Providers

Guidance for Third Sector Organisations

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.

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.

Travel Advice on H5NI

The DHSSPS (Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety), DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), and HM Revenue & Customs in Northern Ireland have recently produced a leaflet  (PDF 63 KB) and a poster  (PDF 62 KB) giving advice to people who may be traveling to, or returning from, areas/countries affected by highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1). Please consult these information resources for further information.
Latest advice relating to travel to or from countries affected by H5N1 can also be accessed through the website of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.fco.gov.ukLink to an external website and the website of the National Travel Health Network www.nathnac.orgLink to an external website.

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.
The HPA have also produced infection control advice for non-health sectors and this is available on the HPA website.
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