Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has launched the Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011 for the UK, which aims to maintain the UK’s status as one of the best-prepared countries in the world.

Following consultations with various health and social care professionals the plan has been updated to create more flexibility and clearer communication between all parties involved in the Government response to a pandemic.

According to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley:

“This Strategy sets out a clear framework to help planners in the NHS and other services to make sure we respond effectively to a flu pandemic. Good communications, strong preparations and close working with our health and social care professionals are key to ensuring the impact on services and to the public is kept to a minimum should a pandemic occur.”

It is the first time that the plan categorizes the main phases of a pandemic i.e. low, moderate and high impact with each likely scenarios being divided into four sections:

  • Impact on the wider society – considerations on how impacts affect local communities
  • Public messages – The general public needs to be reassured and provided with specific information.
  • Nature and scale of the illness – what defines the need for the pandemic to have reached this level i.e. widespread disease
  • Key healthcare delivery – specific actions and guidance for healthcare providers

The plan is based on guidance from 2007 and knowledge obtained from the H1N1 (2009) influenza pandemic, as well as the latest scientific evidence to further reinforce the UK’s preparedness for future pandemics and plans for NHS and other services.

Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General, Health Security and Environment, World Health Organization said:

“The UK remains amongst the leaders worldwide in preparing for a pandemic. The new UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy builds positively on the lessons learned from the H1N1 pandemic in setting the UK’s strategic approach to pandemic preparedness and response”.

The new plan has been developed on a four-nation basis, providing a UK-wide framework for planners across the NHS and other services as a planning aid and to assist in responding to the demands of influenza pandemics.

Written by: Petra Rattue