Pandemic influenza preparation

The NHS is in the process of preparing for a possible outbreak of pandemic flu. The Department of Health and NHS Employers have published a draft set of guidance on the key human resource issues that would arise in the event of an outbreak of pandemic flu. The document has been issued for discussion and employers have responded with their comments.

Steve Barnett, NHS Employers director chaired the working group that developed the guidance on behalf of the Department of Health. The working group was made up of representatives of the Department of Health, Strategic Health Authorities, regulatory bodies, NHS and local government employers and trade union representatives. The working group is currently considering the comments and feedback received about the draft guidance.

Pandemic flu HR guidance

The pandemic flu HR guidance covers the range of issues which may emerge in the event of a pandemic:

• it outlines the main features of the proposed response to the pandemic. Full details of how services will be restructured including the setting up of a 'pandemic flu line' to be coordinated by NHS Direct, arrangements in primary and community services and changes to hospital based services are dealt with in more detail in a range of other pandemic guidance which has been issued by the Department of Health.
• how staff can be redeployed and how organisations can work together can sustain services to deal with the pandemic impact
• how the NHS should deal with the likely impact of the pandemic on staffing levels for example by seeking to build up a reserve pool of potential staff to draw on to fill in gaps created by staff absence
• how to manage staff absence and in particular dealing with staff that have caring responsibilities especially school age children
• ensuring staff are used most effectively and reassuring staff around issues such as discipline
• how to comply with the working time regulations
• providing support to staff during and the pandemic
• the recovery phase.

The guidance will need to be implemented and adapted at local level and should be read alongside the wider guidance on pandemic flu preparedness issued by the Department of Health.

NHS Employers Briefing Pandemic Influenza - HR Issues summarises the main recommendations of the HR guidance and gives details on how to respond.

Flu pandemic payments

In addition NHS Employers and the GPC have reached agreement on the maintenance of GMS practice resources in the event of an influenza pandemic.