Important Londonwide CEO message number 18 - 11 August 2009

 

Three things:

 

1.      LATEST UNSURPRISING NEWS:

 

BMJ published paper says Tamiflu makes kids sick and doesn’t do very much. DH says it doesn’t matter, the evidence is based on seasonal flu so we’re rolling out our plan just in case.

 

2.      PRACTICE BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING:

 

Now that things have settled a while, I thought you might find it helpful to think about planning for the almost inevitable surge in demand from a pandemic of non-severity supported by DH risk averse plans, or your actual emergency should there be a pandemic of high severity. Either way, it is in practices’ best interests to make plans to ensure you can cope, and that your business can pick up once the emergency or pseudo-emergency is over. We have developed a SIMPLE 3 STEP Guidance Tool for you to use during the current lull. It will enable you to confirm to the PCT that you have or are working on your business continuity planning. Please alert us at flu@lmc.org.uk if your PCT requests more detailed information or presents you with more demanding documentation.

 

3.      CERTIFICATION – The HAJJ

 

We have become aware that patients are being asked by travel agents to produce Certificates of Freedom from Swine Flu. They claim that Saudi officials are requiring this. Please ask your reception staff to reassure patients that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj are most definitely NOT requiring this - please read the Ministry’s full guidance for further information. For those who insist or choose to have a certificate, please use the previously published SPECIAL PANDEMIC FLU CERTIFICATE which patients can collect for themselves without seeing a doctor and without a doctor’s signature.

 

 

Add Comment
Submit