INDEPENDENT CARE SECTOR BRIEFING NOTE
1) As noted in previous briefings, all providers are required to do a flu pandemic plan by
the end of 2009. A suggested template is attached
2) Vaccination – meetings are ongoing about this. We are still awaiting guidance from
the Department of Health about the funding for this. In the meantime you need to be
thinking about which of your staff qualify as frontline social care staff – guidance is
on the Department of Health website
3) Learning Together Workshop – on 17th November at the Leyland Hotel, will include
an update on flu planning
4) Business Continuity workshops will be arranged in the next couple of months
5) Personal Protective equipment – if any providers need this, please let LCC Contract s
Section know and it will be provided to you
6) Exercise Prometheus – was run very successfully on 30th October. A report will be
prepared in due course
Below is the latest update from LCC Emergency PLanning
SWINE FLU 2009 – INDEPENDENT CARE SECTOR BRIEFING NOTE
CURRENT SITUATION – 30.10.09
UK:
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There has been an increase in cases in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland over the past seve
days, whilst rates in Wales have remained stable. Rates in N. Ireland are considerably higher than
baseline 280.6 consultations for 100,000).
In Engalnd, there were an estimated 78,000 new cases in week 43 (ending 25 October) compared
with the revised figure of 50,000 in week 42 (56% increase) and rates in both GP sentinel schemes
and NPFS increased 41% and 29% respectively.
Virus positivity rates are continuing to increase in England and N. Ireland but have decreased in
Scotland.
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Hospitalisation's of people with suspected pandemic influenza in England have shown increases in
all age groups. The highest age specific rates remain in those under 5 years of age.
As of 22 October the total number of deaths associated with Swine Flu across the UK was 137,
(England 97, Scotland 25, Wales 7, Northern Ireland 8.)
UPDATE – LOCAL
LRF Flu Group- The LRF Pandemic Influenza Co-ordinating Group next meets on the 3rd November by
teleconference. The minutes from this meeting will be on the LRF Members' Website.
Emergency Flu Friends – There have been 7 requests for Emergency Flu Friends this past week, 4 from
Central Lancs PCT and 3 from Blackburn with Darwen PCT.
UPDATE – NATIONAL/REGIONAL
Regional Co-ordination Group Meeting –The next meeting is on 26th November.
National Sit Reps, FAQs etc
Information from Central Government is now coming out once a week, on a Friday. We shall try to include
anything relevant in this Briefing Note but on occasions the emails do not arrive until late afternoon and we
endeavour to send this Note out in time for you to take any action before the end of the working day. Any
urgent information we shall, of course, forward on to you when it arrives.
Sit Rep
Central Government are now only requiring Situation Reports once a week on a Wednesday. If you have
any issues/queries that you wish to be included on this Sit Rep, please forward them to LCC Emergency
Planning Service before 10am on Wednesday for inclusion in that day's report.
[email protected] and titled Swine Flu – Urgent Sit Rep. A phone call to 01772
537902 would help to ensure it is picked up in time.
New Guidance
Swine flu announcement from the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
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H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccination Programme: Information materials and vaccine schedule information
This letter introduces the information materials for the H1N1 swine flu vaccination programme that are now
published on the Department of Health...
GENERAL INFORMATION – EXTRACTS FROM NATIONAL FAQS
Why are carers not in the priority group for vaccination?
The swine flu vaccine has initially been prioritised to those groups of people who are at highest risk of
severe illness, as well as frontline health and social care workers. Over 11 million people in England
are being targeted during this phase.
In planning the continuation of the vaccination programme we will carefully consider the position of carers,
particularly those with significant and complex caring responsibilities.
How will vaccination of frontline social care workers take place?
[See above re Roy Taylor letter on how the vaccine will be delivered]
The Department of Health has agreed to make financial support available to councils for running a
vaccination programme for social care staff. Local vaccination plans should cover independent sector
Voluntary Agencies – Swine Flu Briefing – Updated 28/07/2017
workers and personal assistants to people receiving direct payments, as well as the council's directly
managed social care workforce.
Councils are choosing a range of methods for delivery of the vaccination, in line with the needs and
characteristics of the council, social care employers, the social care workforce and the NHS.
Who has the responsibly to provide vaccination for private sector front line health and social
care workers not delivering services on behalf of the Local Authorities (including those in
private care homes and independent carers)?
Local authorities' vaccination plans should cover all social care staff within the council's area, regardless of
whether the council has a contracting arrangement with the provider which employs them.
MAINTAINING GOOD BASIC HYGIENE
 washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of virus from your hands to your
face or to other people
 Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
 Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
 Cleaning hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
 Cleaning policy should use neutral detergent and warm water. i.e. normal cleaning products.
Additionally, everyone should be advised not to come to work if they begin to suffer symptoms and should
be sent home if they show symptoms while in the office.
NATIONAL PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE
The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new self-care service that will give people with swine flu symptoms
fast access to information and antivirals. https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk; and a phoneline (0800 1
513 100 or textphone 0800 1 513 200) for people to get information, check their symptoms and get a
unique number that will give them access to antivirals if necessary. When given the unique access number,
they will be told where their nearest antiviral collection point is. They should then ask a flu friend - a healthy
friend or relative - to go and pick up the antiviral medication. If they think they have swine flu, they should
not go out to their GP or A&E.
What documents are needed to be able to collect the antivirals? The flu friend must show their own ID
as well as that of the patient. The authorisation number and ID information will be checked to ensure it
matches the information provided when the assessment of symptoms was completed.
The ID includes:
 a utility bill,
 passport,
 a credit or debit card,
 driving licence, or
 NHS card.
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LRF MEMBERS WEBSITE
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Guidance that is published and already available in the public domain, LRF Flu Group minutes and any
internally produced information WILL BE placed on the LRF Members website.
INFORMATION UPDATES
The following websites give the most up-to-date information
 LRF Website ( www.lancsresilience.org.uk )
 Directgov (www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu) the primary government website for essential crossgovernment swine flu message
 NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk) the primary public-facing health information and advice service;
 the Department of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk) the home of content relating to health and care
professionals
 Business Link (www.businesslink.gov.uk/swineflu) the home of business-related information.
Voluntary Agencies – Swine Flu Briefing – Updated 28/07/2017
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The dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website is at: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-livingoverseas/swine-flu.
Local Government Association - www.lga.gov.uk produce a briefing paper when there is updated
information available
Information for schools - http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/emergencies/planning/flupandemicSchools/
Voluntary Agencies – Swine Flu Briefing – Updated 28/07/2017