13th May 2009

Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Plans

Tony Andrews

Emergency Planning and Incident Response Manager

tandrews@westminster.gov.uk

07912 475 399

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

Bird Flu / Swine Flu

• Planning so far has been based on the possibility of bird flu.

• Swine flu seems to be milder but we are waiting for a definite analysis.

• Flu viruses change over time and can mix with other flu viruses to make a more virulent strain.

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

• 6 Phases.

• We are in Phase 5; (virus increasingly adapted to humans)

• Emphasis is on containment; local school closures

• Phase 6 is the Pandemic

• Pandemic can come in multiple waves. There are predictions of a second, more severe wave of Swine Flu in the Autumn / Winter

WHO Pandemic Phases

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

• Area Sun 10th Mon 11th Tues 12th

• Westminster 2 2 2

• London 32 34 37

• UK 55 65 68

• Worldwide 4,395 4,444 5,264

Current Spread

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

Imminence

• Some predict a serious wave in the Autumn

• Manageable till then

• But, some say an exponential increase in infections could happen within a few weeks as containment becomes unfeasible

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

• Attack rate: Total % of the population infected

Bird Flu: up to 50%

• Complications: % of infected people with complications

Bird Flu: up to 25%

• Acute Care: % of infected people needing hospital care (not always getting it)

Bird Flu: 4%

• Mortality Rate: % of infected people who die

Bird Flu: 2.5%

Pandemic Characteristics

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

• High staff absence due to flu and related factors

• Health services in hospital and community overstretched

• Mortuary, funeral, cremation and burial services overstretched.

• School closures to restrict infection

• All services, businesses and utilities affected

• Fuel supplies affected

Impact

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

• Staff Absence

• Affect on contractors and suppliers

• Infection Control

• Enhanced cleaning (resilience of contract)

• Vulnerability to other emergencies

• Closure

• Remote Learning and other support

• Promotion of Self Help

• Responding to the death of pupils, staff, parents

Impact for Schools

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

The Role of Governors Now

• Read Guidance on Flu Planning, general Emergency Planning, Infection Control

• Clarify responsibility and process for school closure

• Review HR policies re staff absence, particularly due to care of dependents, bereavement

• Ensure contact details are updated

• Review plans to support the school following a death

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

The Role Of Governors Now ctd

• Clarify channels of communication with the LA, Employer, Staff, Parents, Media

• Provide helpful information to staff

• Check the business continuity plans of contractors and suppliers

• Plan for decision making to be delegated in the absence of the usual decision makers and deputies

• Plan for cover of absent staff.

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

Remote Learning

• Plan to provide for remote learning if the school is to be closed for two weeks or more

• Check the resilience of the Managed Learning Environment, if there is one.

• Check students’ access to internet

• Postal arrangements with those with no internet access.

• Plan for power cuts

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

Exams

• See the recent DCSF Q and A on Examinations during school closure

Westminster City Council Business Continuity and Pandemic Flu Preparation

• Combine Business Continuity with Pandemic Flu Plans

• See guidance and planning tools on:

www.emergency.westminster.lgfl.net

• Share any useful procedures with other schools

• Advice available from Tony Andrews: tandrews@westminster.gov.uk 07912 475 399

Planning