Source: Department of Health
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Date of publication: October 2009
Publication type: Best Practice
In a nutshell: The swine flu clinical package is a set of tools for use by frontline healthcare professionals, in severe and exceptional circumstances, during a pandemic situation. The tools in the package are designed to support and empower GPs, community nurses, midwives, health visitors, ambulance crews, emergency department doctors, nurses and those working outside their usual specialty area (e.g. junior doctors or surgeons working in influenza cohort wards). The package will assist these health care professionals to assess patients, authorise antiviral medicines, refer those with severe illness or complications, and guide timely management of patients in hospital.
Length of publication: 15 pages
Some important notes: These tools and pathways are for use only when high surge demand leads to the need for strict hospital admission triage in affected areas. They should not be used when emergency departments and acute admissions units are working with their usual establishment of trained staff, and can operate their usual daily decision pathways, including providing hospital beds for every person fulfilling normal criteria for admission.
The tools are not intended for the assessment of patients routinely presenting for the diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated influenza at an emergency department. These patients should be directed to use the National Pandemic Flu Service, or to contact a primary care surgery or clinic.
