8. PSA AND DSO PERFORMANCE
8.1.16 DSO indicator 1.8 (Preparedness
against pandemic influenza) is a new indicator. The Departmental
Report 2009 states that "NHS organisations are reviewing
the pandemic influenza plans put in place by December 2008 via
a self-assessment, with results due in spring 2009" (p. 250).
Is the Department now able to supply these results? What has been
the cost of preparing for the flu pandemic? (Q107)
Answer
NHS self-assessment results
1. The outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) in
April 2009 interrupted the SHA and PCT self-assessment process.
NHS and Department of Health resources that would, in normal circumstances,
have been allocated to collecting and validating these assessments,
are currently being directed towards managing the current outbreak
and ensuring that the Department and NHS are fully prepared for
any potentially more severe outbreak over the autumn or winter.
2. The response to the swine flu pandemic
by the NHS demonstrates that pandemic flu plans are already in
action and are working well.
3. Diverting resources both within the Department
of Health and across the NHS to complete the analysis would not
be a good use of resources at this time. However, the Department
has a full programme of work, led by the National Director for
NHS Flu Resilience, to ensure NHS Flu Pandemic Plans fully reflect
the current understanding of the influenza A (H1N1) virus. This
includes a programme of testing of plans to be coordinated by
the ten SHAs across England, the results of which will succeed
the audit.
4. This work is already underway and should
be completed by early autumn. A summary report on each of the
ten exercises will be prepared for sign off by each SHA prior
to submission to the National Director for NHS Flu Resilience.
Copies of these reports will be placed in the House of Commons
Library.
Cost of preparing for the flu pandemic
5. The preparedness costs over a number
of years have principally been based on the stockpiling of drugs
and the advance purchase agreements for pandemic vaccines. Contracts
have now been signed to procure the pandemic vaccines. In terms
of central drug stock expenditure for England, the costs of preparing
for the pandemic will be around £1 billion. The Department
is not able to provide a detailed breakdown of this number due
to confidentiality clauses in it's contracts with the various
suppliers.
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