UK HEALTH DEPARTMENTS' UK INFLUENZA PANDEMIC CONTINGENCY PLAN
2. AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim
The aim of this document is to provide a UK national framework for the UK's response to an influenza pandemic. This plan also aims to provide a strategic framework for Scotland's responses to an influenza pandemic within the overall UK framework. The plan aims to provide clear guidance for those developing more detailed operational plans for their own part of the response at all levels, including local plans, which should clearly allocate responsibilities.
The response is based on phases defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) which trigger public health action, starting with plans which need to be put in place, and exercised, during interpandemic periods.
An inter-agency response is indicated and the roles of organisations and their lines of communication are defined.
Objectives
The objectives of contingency planning for an influenza pandemic are to:
set up a system for a flexible response to unpredictable events
prevent the emergence of a potentially pandemic virus, to the extent that this is possible
recognise a novel strain of influenza virus with pandemic potential, and clinical illness due to it
minimise the spread of the new virus, and if possible prevent a pandemic emerging
rapidly assess the emerging epidemiology to inform control measures, for example the age groups predominantly affected
limit morbidity and mortality due to the pandemic strain
provide treatment and care for large numbers of people ill from influenza and its complications
cope with the eventuality of large numbers of people dying
minimise the impact on health and social services, including from delays in dealing with other medical conditions
provide timely, authoritative and up to date information for professionals, the public and the media throughout the period of a potential or actual pandemic
ensure that essential services are maintained
minimise the impact on daily life and business
anticipate and plan for other consequences
minimise economic loss.
Principles underlying the response
The following principles underlie this contingency plan:
The priorities in an influenza pandemic are to reduce the impact on public health and maintain essential services. Interventions will therefore be applied where they will achieve maximum health benefit, but also where they are needed to help maintain essential services. There may sometimes be a conflict between these two aims, when political decisions will need to be made about priorities for the use of interventions
In the absence of medical interventions to protect large numbers of the population against the new virus, public health and/or 'social' interventions which might slow its spread, and possibly extend the time until alert levels rise, may help services to cope
The overall response to pandemic influenza in the UK will require collaboration between the UK Government, Devolved Administrations, the Health Protection Agency, Health Protection Scotland, Wales National Public Health Service and NHS infrastructures at all levels, together with many partner organisations and the public.
Scottish Ministers are accountable for the Scottish response to pandemic influenza, but the response will be coherent across the UK and the Scottish response will aim to fit in the framework of the overall UK response. The response in Scotland will require partnership between all levels of Government, Health Protection Scotland and NHSScotland, public agencies, industry, and the public within Scotland.