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Executive Summary
The purpose of this guidance is to assist NHS Boards and community health providers in developing their plans for responding to an influenza pandemic by setting out a framework for the provision of healthcare in a community setting.
The twentieth century saw three influenza pandemics, and a repeat of such occurrences is highly likely. Since the timing of an outbreak cannot be predicted a high level of general preparedness is the best protection for the Scottish population.
An influenza pandemic will place considerable pressure upon health services in the community. They will need to provide care both to those suffering influenza and to those who routinely depend upon community healthcare services for a variety of non influenza treatments at a time when there will be high levels of staff absence. This guidance, which should be read in conjunction with other planning documents, sets out a framework and identifies issues for local operational planning across Scotland.
The main features of the document are:
- Context setting; it makes explicit the legal obligation to develop plans along with the planning assumptions and principles upon which plans are to be founded.
- Organisation; patient pathways are set out, the scope and purpose of national telephone support described and local coordination arrangements made explicit.
- Roles; the specific roles that General Practice, Community Pharmacy, NHS24, Scottish Ambulance Service and Community Care Services are to play in the response to a pandemic are set out.
- Medicines and vaccines; factors to be considered in local planning concerning the distribution of antivirals and vaccines are described.
The document provides advice throughout on specific actions that NHS Boards and other organisations can take to develop their operational preparedness for an influenza pandemic.
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