Pandemic Guidelines
Clinical guidelines
Clinical guidance for patients with an influenza-like illness during an influenza pandemic (PDF, 1 MB). Last revised March 2006.
This document contains guidance for health professionals regarding the treatment of pandemic influenza, agreed by experts from the British Thoracic Society, the British Infection Society and the Health Protection Agency. It is published as official UK guidance by the Department of Health in England and covers treatment in hospitals and the community, of both adults and children.
Infection control guidance for the health sector
Specific guidance for pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza was issued by Department of Health in December 2009.
DH swine flu summary of infection control for health care (DH link)
This summary takes account of interim guidance from the World Health Organization on Infection prevention and control in health care for confirmed and suspected cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and influenza like illness.
The November 2007 Pandemic Influenza: Guidance for infection control in hospitals and primary care settings provides fuller guidance for planning for a future pandemic where the severity and transmissibility of the pandemic strain will be different to pandemic(H1N1) 2009 influenza.
Pandemic influenza: guidance for infection control in hospitals and primary care settings (DH link)
Guidance for infection control in critical care has been developed to assist critical care units to plan and conduct their pandemic response.
Pandemic flu: guidance for infection control in critical care (DH link)
Guidance for infection control in ambulance services is also available.
Pandemic influenza: summary infection control guidance for ambulance services (DH link)
Infection control guidance for non-NHS sectors:
Infection control guidance, jointly developed by the HPA and the Department of Health, for use in the event of an influenza pandemic is available for some non-NHS sectors. Click to download PDF files from the DH website.
Each of the guidance has standard text, which explains what pandemic influenza is, how it is spread and how you can protect yourself and others from it. It then addresses issues relevant to the particular sector. For example, the guidance for the hospitality industry includes sections for hotel managers on decontaminating hotel rooms and the advice to give to guests.
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Pandemic flu guidance for businesses: risk assessment in the occupational setting Last revised 27 March 2009.
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Pandemic flu: infection control guidance for funeral directors Last revised November 2009.
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Pandemic flu: guidance for cleaning staff and refuse collectors in non-health care settings Last revised 30 January 2008.
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Pandemic flu guidance for Fire and Rescue Service Last revised 30 January 2008.
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Pandemic flu guidance for the hospitality industry Last revised 30 January 2008.
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Pandemic flu guidance for the Police Service Last revised 30 January 2008.
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Pandemic flu guidance for environmental health practitioners Last revised 02 October 2008.
Sector specific guidance
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Infection control - how to reduce the spread of pandemic flu: Guidance for schools (PDF, 128 KB). Last revised June 2007. This guidance and other relevant documents can also be found at the teachernet website.
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Infection control - how to reduce the spread of pandemic flu: guidance for further education colleges and higher education institutions (PDF, 98 KB). Last revised June 2007. This guidance and other relevant documents can also be found at the DIUS Website.
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Consultation paper - Pandemic flu planning guidance for Justice system (PDF, 187 KB). Published on 05 September 2008.
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Prison Infectious Disease Annual Report 2007 (PDF, 96 KB) Prison Health Annual Report 2007 Refer to pg. 11 regarding pandemic flu
WHO Guidance
WHO Pandemic influenza preparedness and response (2009) (WHO website)
World Health Organization checklist for influenza pandemic preparedness planning (2005) (WHO website)
WHO global influenza preparedness plan (2005) (WHO website)
