Response to Swine Flu

Paul Greeves, Head of Safety

Friday 4th September 2009

Background

Our Operations:

News

Sport

Factual programmes

Entertainment and events

Overseas Bureaux

Background

Our Resources: Safety Team High Risk Team Chief Medical Officer Occupational Health Service CEGA Business Continuity Team

Background

Background

Avian flu and pandemic planning Coverage – duty of care Charter obligations, service priority matrix Business Impact Analysis and continuity plans

First news from Mexico Friday 24th April 2009

Reaction to Mexico outbreaks

Priorities: Enable safe coverage - risk assessments, Tamiflu,

PPE? Protect staff – travel restrictions Protect operations – isolation policy Provide staff information

Adjusting our approach

Illness not (generally) serious – risk assessments and isolation policy relaxed.

Disease becomes widespread – travel restrictions relaxed

Shift of effort from protection of individuals to business continuity

Advice in line with HPA Weekly review meetings

Spikes of interest and alarm…

Managing staff concerns Lots of effort in providing reassurance to staff. “don’t get pregnant at the moment” weekend

(18/19 July) Reduce the number of people with symptoms

who are at work. Campaign of general hygiene information Keeping things in proportion

Future Planning

Business Impact Analysis and Continuity Plans Staff Advice Wipes and Gels Tamiflu and Vaccinations Next wave?

Summary• Planning and discussion/rehearsal• Fast response• Duty of care to staff at occupational risk• Staying aligned with WHO/HPA• International dimension• Applying the lessons of this outbreak to a more

serious pandemic?