EBME Forums Forums Management Training Pandemic Flu preparation

Do you call the meeting before, during or after the disaster? So no forward thinking allowed?

Our Health board has been very proactive on the flu pandemic.
All HOD's have been sent a copy of their original Continunity Plans which were written on the basis of loosing, (in our case the department) due to a major incident, like a plane crashing on the hospital. These have been modified to take into account that we will still have a dept, but probably less technical staff.
We get regular updates on the current status, advice etc and have earmarked certain areas and equipment that could be used for patients in isolation.

..and then there's the question of how to turn the thing 'on' !!!


BTW..how do I get quote from an earlier thread to correctly appear on my reply...including the name of the original contributor??

Just a thought, if I may. There was a time when I was involved in formulating plans for continuing to provide technical support for equipment users in all sorts of weird and wonderful scenarios. You know, of the "what should we do if the Russians suddenly appear at the end of street" type (all a bit far-fetched I thought ... yes, even then).

My main contribution (I don't think it's a secret any more, but who knows) was instigating pre-positioned (basic) spare parts, tools and service consumables so that our techs (having tabbed hard, engaged the enemy, and won the fire-fight etc. ... here I jest, of course), would still have the means to fulfill our core function. That is (or do I mean was), making sure that the users still had serviceable kit at their disposal!

My advice is to keep it within the realms of reality. That is, consider first what's actually likely to happen (in this case ... not much ... just a couple of the guys with the "sniffles", or something like that). Then whilst keeping your eye firmly on the ball, as it were (that is, whilst addressing your core aims), come up with a brief, sensible and realistic (achievable) plan!

For instance, at one hospital I was at, our departmental "disaster plan" was simply to stay on site (that is, don't go home), carry on supporting the hospital departments (and the management) as usual, and take over responsibility for the supply of oxygen cylinders to the various locations that needed them. This was because there was an assumption that the porters would be more busy than usual wheeling patients about!

We have just converted from genius to genius 2 thermometers but still had the old ones and quite a supply of the old type covers. They have now gone to our occy health dept to help them sort out the wheat from the chaff regarding the skivers that have already started to descend on their doors. It also gets rid of my problem of disposing of them....occy health can do that now!!! there's nothing better than passing the buck ;-)

The thermometers or the skivers?

Meanwhile ... general alert ... steer well clear of any sneezing swine!

Did read that one of the questions that is being asked over the phone is 'Are you unconscious!!!'.

Seems like another quality NHS document/Flow chart.

Dare I ask where the NHS Direct Call Centre is located?

On second thoughts, perhaps I would be better off not knowing.

Actually a lot of call centres are now located in the UK (trust issue)

Hi Karen

Look at your PM.

Jim