Business Continuity and Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu PlanningPandemic Flu Planning

Business ContinuityBusiness Continuity

What is a Business Continuity Plan?

• Business Continuity Plans detail how you plan to respond to incidents and business disruptions in order to continue operations

• They focus on staffing, equipment, premises and records and how a loss or damage to any of these will affect your ability to operate

What Should a Plan Contain?What Should a Plan Contain?

• Plan Overview• Roles and Responsibilities• Notification, Invocation, Communication and

Escalation Procedures• The Pandemic Response Team• Contacts (Internal and External)• Task Checklist, especially for the first weeks • Supporting Information• Critical Business Activities –Action Plan• Return to Business as Usual

Business ContinuityBusiness Continuity

Do you have a Business Continuity Plan?

If Yes now is the time to ‘dust’ it off and review it and send a copy to –acsemergencyplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

If No now is the time to complete one and send a copy to - acsemergencyplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Pandemic FluPandemic Flu

Who is most Vulnerable?Who is most Vulnerable?People with:

• Chronic lung disease • Chronic heart disease • Chronic kidney disease • Chronic liver disease • Chronic neurological disease • Immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or

treatment) • Diabetes mellitus • Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the

past three years • Pregnant women • People aged 65 years and older • Young children under five years old

Some FiguresSome Figures

Projections have changed – actually reduced!

From September +

• Clinical attack rate = 10% - 20% of the population• Case complication ratio = up to 15% of clinical cases• Case hospitalisation ratio = up to 1% of clinical cases, of

which 25% could require intensive care• Case fatality rate = up to 0.1% of clinical cases.• Up to 15% of your staff could be off sick at any one time or

caring for someone through swine flu. • The average duration of the illness is 9 calendar days.(Please Note – the above should not be used as a prediction of how the virus will develop over the autumn, but should be used as a reasonable worst case scenario for planning purposes.)

Use of AntiviralsUse of Antivirals

• Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)• Works by preventing the virus from reproducing• NOT a cure• Reduces length of symptoms by about a day, and

reduces severity• Targeted at those symptomatic for less than 48 hours,

and provided within 12-24 hours Distribution centres and flu friends

National Pandemic Flu Service - 0800 1 513 100 www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

Good HygieneGood Hygiene

Ensure everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water

Clean surfaces regularly to get rid of germs Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough

or sneeze Place used tissues in a bin as soon as possible Soft surfaces infectious for 24 hours Hard surfaces infectious for 72 hours Don’t need special cleaning materials!

ExpectationsExpectations

• “Business as usual”• Identification of Priority Service Users• Get to know your staff

• Are they at risk?• Can they do extra hours?• Consider using other staff – retired staff for example?

• Buddy Arrangements / sub contracting• Sickness levels and the reporting of sickness• Maintain Infection Control – PPE as required• Communication – Strategic / Local

VaccinationsVaccinations

Your staff will be offered the vaccine in the 1st wave and we will need to know numbers to assist our Health colleagues to deliver the vaccine. Would you please provide the following details –

Provider NameProvider AddressTelephone Number Email AddressList detailing your numbers of staff broken down by City/Town – Home Address followed by the City/Town – Work Address

To the following email address - acsemergencyplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

In Summary

• People in Devon who have been affected have only suffered mild flu like symptoms.

• The number of people accessing antiviral collection points continues to fall.

• The virus is not becoming more severe or developing resistance to antivirals.

• There are 11 antiviral collection points currently open in Devon.

In Summary

• The PCT has signed an agreement with the British Red Cross to provide a flu friend service for vulnerable people who would otherwise be unable to access antiviral medicines. This service is only to be used as a last resort.

• Vaccination protocols being drawn up and vaccination should commence October.

• Priority Groups for vaccines determined and staff delivering “personal care” will be offered the vaccine in phase 1

Further InformationFurther Information

• DH Website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/PandemicFlu/index.htm

• UK Homecare Association: http://www.ukhca.co.uk/flu/• Guidance on how to safely put on and remove PPE:

http://www.dh.dov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/PandemicFlu/DH_078752• Responding to Pandemic Flu in Adult Social Care (DH Nov 2007)

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_073184

• Health Protection Agency http://www.hpa.org.uk/ • HSE http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/pandflu.htm • NHS Choices http:///www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Questions ?Questions ?

ContactContactacsemergencyplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk