Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Planning

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 Further guidance and templates can be found on the Devon County Council’s website. My role as the Business Manager (Emergency Planning) is to support you in ensuring that these are up to date and fit for purpose and tested. I will not write these, that is your responsibility. You must decide which parts of the business are crucial to keep going – I would say that many of the people in this room are not crucial to the provision of front-line services and in times of large scale staff absences should be able to move into frontline roles to cover staff such as in Financial Assessments or the Systems Support Team. At present I am focussing on business critical areas such as CCT/CLDTeams/Residential and Domiciliary Care/Respite and the Emergency Duty Team.

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 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 Flu

Swine Flu is spread from human to human from droplets in the nose and mouth. Research shows that the virus can survive on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours and soft surfaces for up to 24 hours. The importance of hand washing and good personal hygiene cannot be over-emphasised. Pandemic Flu is currently the number one risk on the UK Risk Register. Normal inter-pandemic period 39-42yrs Now 40yrs since last pandemic……

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 For planning purposes in Devon we are looking at peaks for the first wave at the end of August beginning of September and then another peak at the end of December beginning of January. This is the same planning assumptions as Somerset CC. For Schools this is being monitored closely to ensure that schools have sufficient staff to re-open in September.

Some 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.) For planning purposes in Devon we are looking at peaks for the first wave at the end of August beginning of September and then another peak at the end of December beginning of January. This is the same planning assumptions as Somerset CC. For Schools this is being monitored closely to ensure that schools have sufficient staff to re-open in September. CAR = up to 30%

Use 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 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!

Expectations “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 More to follow - JF

Vaccinations Provider Address Telephone Number Email Address 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 Name Provider Address Telephone Number Email Address List 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 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 ? Contact acsemergencyplanning-mailbox@devon.gov.uk