The council has been planning for and preparing to deal with a pandemic for the last three years. It has worked closely with its partners - importantly in this case including NHS Islington - to ensure that we are able to respond to the increasing numbers and we are able to support the community during and after the pandemic.
The council’s Emergency Planning team is constantly updating Central Government on the council’s position and likewise is able to provide all departments with accurate and relevant information about the current state of the pandemic.
In addition, meetings are held with NHS Islington, as the NHS are the lead organisation for pandemic flu, to ensure we are doing all we can to support them.
Each service develops plans to make sure it is able to provide critical services to its residents even if large numbers of our own staff are affected by swine flu or any illness. In the unlikely event that any of our services are unavailable temporarily, priority will be given to critical services. We will update the website with details in the event of any service being affected.
We are also liaising with our partners such as Homes for Islington and Aquaterra, to keep up to date with how their services may be or may become affected.
Our Emergency Planning Unit will also liaise with Cambridge Education daily when schools are back to ensure we receive the latest information about how our schools are affected and to pass on any information from the Department for Children, Schools and Families regarding school closures.
A vaccination has been licensed and the following groups are prioritised for vaccination in the following order:
These groups have been identified because they are at highest risk of severe illness should they contract the swine flu virus. They are contacted directly by their GP. If people feel they are in this high risk group but have not been contacted by their GP, they should contact their GP directly.
In addition, those staff eligible for seasonal flu vaccine, as set out in the Green Book, are eligible for swine flu vaccination. This includes staff who have regular clinical contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care. Examples of those groups who are offered the vaccine include doctors, dentists, midwives and nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and radiographers. Students and trainees in these disciplines, and volunteers who are working with patients, are also be included.
The most important thing for you to do is to maintain good hygiene. This means using a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throwing it away after use and most importantly – regularly washing your hands with soap and water! Be aware that viruses can live for a long time on hard surfaces so make sure you clean your hard surfaces, like tables, door handles and remote controls. But if in doubt – wash your hands before putting them anywhere near your eyes, nose or mouth.
Page Last Updated: 09 February 2010