Dealing with a Pandemic

  1. The purpose of these guidelines

    The clinical and public health management of a flu pandemic is the responsibility of local and regional Emergency Services working through the Health Protection Agency, Primary Care Trusts and General Practitioners. The University and the Colleges will look to the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) for advice.

    In a case or outbreak involving any student or staff member of the University and Colleges, University and College staff may be asked:

    • To assist in disseminating information to relevant individuals in the University and Colleges.
    • To invoke a College Emergency Plan, which may include providing designated buildings or staircases in Colleges as treatment centres for trained medical staff.

    These guidelines describe the agreed lines of communication between various members of the Health Protection Agency, the University and the Colleges.

  2. Key staff and offices

    The key staff and offices responsible for responding to a pandemic are:

    • The Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
    • The University's Occupational Health Service
    • The Colleges' Pandemic Flu Liaison Nurse
    • The Colleges' Pandemic Flu Liaison Senior Tutor
    • The University's Office of Communications

  3. The roles of Senior Tutors and College Nurses

    1. The relevant Senior Tutor will be notified by the Public Health Doctor on Call.
    2. The relevant Senior Tutor or College Nurse will liaise with the designated GP or other medical agencies, as instructed by the Local and Regional Emergency Services, to issue instructions and guidance about prophylactic treatment, including where to go for such treatment.
    3. Senior Tutors or College Nurses may liaise with the Head of the University Counselling Service to discuss the need for assistance in providing counselling for students, particularly if facilities are not available at the College or a large number of students is involved.
    4. The Colleges. Pandemic Flu Liaison Senior Tutor will disseminate information to all Senior Tutors.
    5. The Colleges. Pandemic Flu Liaison Nurse will disseminate information to all College Nurses and organise additional help to administer prophylactic treatment if required.
    6. College staff should not issue a press release or statement, even if a student dies. All press information and enquiries will be handled by the University's Office of Communications.

  4. The role of the University's Occupational Health Service

    Once the Public Health Doctor on Call has notified the University.s Occupational Health Service, the OHS will:

    1. Inform the Colleges. Pandemic Flu Liaison Senior Tutor.
    2. Inform the Colleges. Pandemic Flu Liaison Nurse.
    3. Inform University Departments and Faculties on a need-to-know basis
    4. Inform the members of the Pandemic Flu Liaison Team (Appendix I).
    5. Inform the University.s Health and Safety Division.
    6. Issue prophylactic treatment on the direction of the CCDC.
    7. Maintain regular contact with the Public Health Doctor on Call.
    8. Liaise with the Office of Communications to provide and receive on-going information about the case.

  5. The role of the University's Office of Communications

    The Office of Communications (01223 332300: out-of-hours 07970 291007) will:

    1. On the instruction of the University's Occupational Health Service and with due regard for patient confidentiality, inform the Vice-Chancellor, Registrary and Chairman of the Committee of Management of the University Health Services about confirmed cases within the University and Colleges.
    2. In liaison with the Public Health Doctor on Call, Addenbrooke's/Primary Care Trust press office and the Senior Tutor of the relevant College, prepare a statement for the Press. Handle all enquiries from the media and the general public, involving other members of the Pandemic Flu Liaison Team as appropriate.
    3. Prepare additional statements and briefings if required, ensuring accuracy and consistency of information.
    4. Update University web pages.
    5. Follow the guidance of the University's 'Communications and Confidentiality Strategy' (Appendix II).

  6. The role of the Pandemic Flu Liaison Team

    The membership of this team is shown in Appendix I. The role of the team is:

    • to disseminate information from national, regional and local health and emergency services across the University and the Colleges
    • to co-ordinate the response to the pandemic

    If an outbreak of flu is confirmed by the CCDC, the Occupational Health Service will contact the Pandemic Flu Liaison Team as necessary on the basis of information supplied by the Public Health Doctor on Call. All new information from within the University or the Colleges should be relayed direct to the Occupational Health Service.

  7. Training

    It is the responsibility of Senior Tutors to identify those staff who require training in symptom recognition, and to ensure that appropriate training is offered. College Nurses will be able to provide information and advice.