the HPA have updated their guidance in respect of Swine Flu for Care Homes which can be accessed for information purposes for those working in Social Care Environments.
1. Managing influenza -like illness (ILI) in nursing and residential homes during the current influenza pandemic (WHO Phase6) Version 2.2 - 01/10/2009 (This guidance is for Residential / Nursing Care Homes management - updates can be found in the HPA website at www.hpa.org.uk)
All colleagues are reminded to note the following;
• Care Homes (including the Independent Sector) which experience an outbreak of 'one diagnosed case' or 'two or more cases of influenza-like illness arising within the same 48 hour period in residents or staff' must inform their local HPU. On Contacting the HPU, further advice may be given by the HPU who could ask the Care Homes to stop new admissions or transfers for at least seven days in the first instance in accordance with the guidance.
The Durham Office HPU can be contacted on 0191 333 3372.
Independent Sector Social Care colleagues are requested to advise DCC Adults Wellbeing and Health Commissioning Service by contacting Louise Lyons Commissioning Services Manager at louise.lyons@durham.gov.uk or Julian Brown Deputy Commissioning Services Manager at julian.brown@durham.gov.uk
• Personal Protection Equipment is only needed by those carrying out Health and Social Care duties in line with the guidance issued by the Department of Health. Stringent hygiene regimes and high standards of cleaning are to be maintained especially in multi-user care environments using detergents, alcohol impregnated wipes or alcohol spray. This will include all hard surfaces example, work surfaces, couches, chairs, door handles. Any items of equipment which are multi patient use should be decontaminated in line with manufacturer’s guidance. Care establishments should purchase their own stocks of Personal Protection Equipment to ensure that they are properly equipped - current guidance advises that the NHS will only be releasing stocks of Personal Protection Equipment once supplies are unavailable through normal supply channels.
• Symptomatic patients and healthcare workers are advised to stay off work for 7 days from onset of symptoms, regardless of whether they have taken Tamiflu or not.
• Pregnant women are advised:
• to avoid prolonged (> 1 hour) direct contact in care delivery setting with clinically diagnosed case of flu
• that they can continue to have contact with other people in their household as long as they are asymptomatic
• to seek medical advice promptly if they develop signs / symptoms of flu; antiviral treatment with Zanamivir (Relenza) is recommended.
• Patients who suspect they have Swine Flushould:
• Stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take over the counter flu remedies or paracetamol
• The Department of Health has also announced the opening of the National Pandemic Flu Service for England which can be called on 0800 1 513 100 between 8am and midnight or by logging on at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
• Prophylactic antivirals will not be supplied unless there are extreme clinical circumstances i.e. where there is an immuno-compromised person living in the same household as someone with clinically diagnosed swine flu.
• A Pandemic Influenza Vaccine is being made available through the NHS who are currently working on their plans to deliver a vaccination programme in the near future. The NHS will be publishing details of how to access the vaccine once it becomes available.
Specific information for managing influenza-like illness in Social Care establishments including Nursing & Residential Homes and other various guidance documents are available from the Department of Health/Health Protection Agency and World Health Organisation. These can be downloaded from their websites;
• http://www.hpa.org.uk/
Please find the latest document here
