Flu Pandemic Preparations
April 2006
In response to the potential threat of a flu pandemic the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have been working together through a joint RCGP/GPC Emergency Planning Group (Pandemic Influenza). The aim of the group is to provide advice and guidance specific to general practice on a range of issues that will need to be engaged in the event of a pandemic.
Service Continuity Planning
GP practices are advised to have service continuity plans for reasons of clinical governance and business planning. Most practices are now in the process of considering what plans need to be put in place in the event of an influenza pandemic.
The joint RCGP/GPC Emergency Planning Group (Pandemic Influenza) have produced a framework that practices can use to build their own plans, together with a worked example and a PowerPoint toolkit to help practices in developing their own plans.
Practices are very welcome to use the planning framework, but they should be aware that it is intended only to be used as a guide for practices, and that most practices may want to amend the framework to meet their own needs. In light of this, the framework and guidance can help stimulate discussion amongst practice staff to assist in drawing up their own plans.
In the event of a pandemic, or any major incident, practices will need to liaise with their neighbouring practices, their primary care organisation, and other healthcare providers. Practices are urged to share and discuss their plans with other relevant stakeholders.
Use the links in the right hand margin to download the following documents.
- RCGP/GPC - Service continuity planning framework with comments
- RCGP/GPC - Service continuity planning framework worked example
- Primary care emergency planning toolkit
- The Department of Health Pandemic Flu contingency plan and guidance for health professionals and patients can be found online.
Download the RCGP/GPC framework with comments in Word format (472K)
Download the primary care emergency planning toolkit in PowerPoint format (163K)