LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITY

INFECTIOUS DISEASE POLICY

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Reference:

ID Policy

Author & Title:

Infectious Disease Policy R McManniman

Responsible Director:

Laura Gittins

Review Date:

NA

Ratified by:

University Council

Date Ratified:

28/11/17

Version:

V1.2

Status:

Live

Version History

V1 28/11/17

V1.2 07/02/18 Titles updated – Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk

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The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidance in the event of a single confirmed case

or a suspected outbreak of an infectious (notifiable) disease within the University community.

Although major outbreaks are rare the University must consider known disease risks and plan

to manage and contain the spread of an infectious disease to reduce the risk posed to staff,

students, and visitors.

The policy will outline what action is to be taken, by whom and the key lines of communication

needed to ensure a timely, sensitive and professional response. The detail within this policy

should not be restrictive, as each event will differ. Given the number of ways the University

may be informed of an infectious disease case and the range of potential exposure, the scope

of the University’s response and key staff involved may vary.

Generally the University has a duty to incorporate general awareness raising of infectious and

notifiable diseases as part of health promotion activities for staff and students at relevant times

in the academic year. The University shall utilise the various resources available to ensure

information provided is reflective of any national, regional trends in relevant diseases. The

University will continue to proactively target students to help reduce the incidence of some

infectious diseases.

Where an infectious disease case is confirmed, the University’s main role will involve working

closely with external health agencies, most notably the local Health Protection Team (HPT)

and Public Health England (PHE) to assist them with managing the spread of diseases and

help limit outbreaks. Through working with and under the direction of PHE or similar, the

University strives to fulfil its own duty of care towards, staff, students and visitors.

Separate to this, the University has distinct responsibilities under the Health and Safety and

Work Act 1974, most notably under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous

Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) to report any work related infectious diseases when

they occur amongst employees.

The detail within this policy outlines the likely roles and responsibilities in relation to infectious

diseases, including managing an outbreak and supporting and communicating with staff and

students so that the University can effectively manage such an incident.

Local Health Protection Team – Cheshire and Merseyside HPT

Public Health England North West

Suite 3B

3rd Floor

Cunard Building

Water Street

Liverpool

L3 1DS

Telephone

0344 225 0562 (option 1)

Out of Hours Advice Line

0151 434 4819

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In practice the University will work to fulfil the following responsibilities;

i. Work in conjunction with and on the advice of PHE to inform staff and students as

soon as possible following notification of a confirmed case or suspected outbreak of an

infectious disease.

ii. Ensure sufficient information is made available to everyone who is deemed ‘at risk’ i.e.

any members of staff/ students or visitors that have been in close contact or proximity

to the infected person within the period prior to diagnosis. (Note the guidance shall

vary by disease and the University shall work under the advice provided by PHE).

iii. Assist PHE by providing as detailed information as possible in relation to a suspected

case/ outbreak by;

a. Completing contact tracing for staff, student or visitors

b. Providing a central location as a base for external health agencies, this may

include for the administration of prophylactic treatment

c. Disseminating information to relevant individuals at the University.

Definitions used within this document

Infectious Disease Also known as a communicable disease. Any disease

transmissible by infection or contagion which can

spread from one person to another via direct or indirect

contact. Spread can be by varying routes and varying

degrees of infectivity. Vaccinations programmes exist

for some, not all infectious diseases.

The most serious infectious diseases are notifiable

under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Act 1988

Medical practitioners are responsible for notifying the

diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of a notifiable

infectious disease.

Examples include TB, E-Coli, Meningococcal Disease.

See Appendix 1 for a full list.

Reportable Disease Reportable diseases must be linked to a work process

or activity that leads to exposure to listed physical

agents, substances, biological agents and conditions

caused by the physical demands of work.

After diagnosis of a reportable disease, the medical

practitioner is obliged to notify the University as soon

as possible, usually via the issuing of a medical

certificate.

Outbreak Usually two or more confirmed cases of the same

infectious disease within a 1 -2 week timeframe,

dependant on the illness and where common links can

be identified.

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Reporting Flowchart for Infectious (Notifiable) Diseases

Using operational guidance provided by Public Health England the University shall attempt to

adopt the following general process on confirmation of a single case or suspected outbreak of

a notifiable infectious disease.

1. Initial Response – Staff Cases

Staff working overseas who have been diagnosed with an infectious disease shall contact the

Personnel Office as soon as possible in line with the usual Sickness Absence policy. The

Personnel Department will then inform the Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk who

will escalate to the local HPT / PHE for advice.

HPT/ PHE confirms LHU staff member has

been diagnosed with a notifiable infectious

disease.

HPT/ PHE contact affected staff member.

HPT/ HPE will advise the University if there is a

risk posed to staff or students.

HPT/ PHE confirms no

additional risk to staff.

Head of Legal Services,

Governance and Risk to

implement advice issued

and set out appropriate

communication strategy.

HPT/ PHE confirms known risk to others. Head

of Legal Services, Governance and Risk to

contact:

Director of Personnel

Pro Vice Chancellor Student Life &

Learning

Dean / Head of Department / Line Manager

of affected staff member

Health and Safety Advisor

External Relations

HPT/ PHE to determine clinical actions and

devise a suitable management plan.

LHU to implement guidance provided.

LHU to complete a post incident review and

prepare a procedural report for the University’s

Health and Safety Consultative Committee and

University’s Standing Committee on Health and

Safety.

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2. Initial Response – University Students

Actions arising from HPT/ PHE involvement will determine the next steps which is expected to

include, treatment options, contact tracing, potential isolation, vaccinations and

communication. The University’s Major Incident Plan will be instigated if appropriate.

HPT/ PHE contacts LHU and confirms student has

been diagnosed with a notifiable infectious disease.

Out of Hours:

Resident student has received emergency medical

treatment and Duty SRT is informed of a potential

diagnosis of an infectious disease.

Duty SRT to notify;

Head of Student Welfare & Well-being

Head of Residential Life

Of

Name of student

Contact number

Campus Address

Current location and condition of student.

Head of Student

Welfare and Well-

being to inform

Head of Legal

Services,

Governance and

Risk.

HPT/ PHE

confirms there is

no risk to other

students and staff

HPT/ PHE confirms known risk to others to LHU.

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk to

inform and brief;

Pro Vice Chancellor Student Life and Learning

Head of Student Welfare and Well-being

Head of Residential Life

Director of Personnel

Director of Estates

Faculty Dean (of affected student)

External Relations

Pro Vice

Chancellor Student

Life & Learning to

brief staff and

students via

suitable internal

communication

strategy

HPT/ PHE to determine clinical actions and devise a

suitable management plan.

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk to

form small working group involving;

Head of Student Welfare and Well-being

Director of Estates

Head of Residential Life

To implement advice provided by HPT/PHE.

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3. Initial Response - Visitors to the University

Staff member receives report of a visitor (or

residential guest) with a potential or suspected

diagnosis of an infectious disease.

The visitor’s details including:

name,

age,

contact information,

and current location should be gathered

where possible.

Staff member informs Head of Legal Services,

Governance and Risk and Health and Safety

Advisor.

Out of Hours: Contact the Hope Park Security

Lodge for emergency contact information for

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk.

In absence of the Head of Legal Services,

Governance and Risk the Pro Vice Chancellor

Student Life and Learning should be contacted.

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk to

contact HPT/ PHE for further guidance.

HPT/ PHE confirms

no notifiable disease

has been diagnosed.

HPT/ PHE confirms diagnosis and known risk to

others to LHU.

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk to

devise suitable communication strategy and

implement advice from HPT/ PHE working with

the areas/ departments involved with the hosting

the affected visitor(s).

HPT/ PHE confirms

diagnosis but no

known risk to others.

LHU to complete a post incident review and

prepare a procedural report for the University’s

Health and Safety Consultative Committee and

Council Standing Committee on Health and

Safety.

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4. Reportable Diseases involving University Staff

Medical Practitioner informs University of a

reportable disease affecting a member of staff

Upon receipt of confirmation of a reportable

disease, the staff member’s Head of

Department, HR Manager, Health and Safety

Advisor and Head of Legal Services,

Governance and Risk shall be informed.

Health and Safety Advisor to ensure internal

Accident Report is filed by the relevant

department.

Health and Safety Advisor

files RIDDOR report with

the Enforcing Authority.

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk

agrees with staff member’s line manager and/

or Head of Department any immediate risk

control actions to be taken.

Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk

to instigate formal investigation report.

Investigation Report and recommendations to

be submitted to Rectorate Team and Health

and Safety Consultative Committee and

Council Standing Committee for Health and

Safety.

Health and Safety Advisor

to track progress towards

recommendations in

conjunction with Head of

Department.

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5. Initial Response – Infectious (Non-Notifiable) Diseases involving University

Students

Initial response where there is an outbreak of an infectious (non-notifiable) infection/disease

within University Halls of Residence.

Definitions

The classification of an outbreak can be broader for non-notifiable diseases and can be

defined as:

An incident in which a number of people experiencing a similar illness are linked by

location and time of incidence

The occurrence of a contagious illness/disease in excess of what would normally be

expected in a defined community or geographical area

A suspected or actual event involving microbial or chemical contamination of food /

water

Duty SRT is notified / becomes aware of an outbreak

of a contagious infection/illness (e.g. scabies/

shingles/ Norovirus/ serious food poisoning etc.)

Duty SRT to notify Head of Student Welfare

& Well-being and Head of Residential Life

of:

Nature of outbreak

Names/No. of students involved

Campus location(s) of students

Head of Student Welfare & Well-being seeks

guidance from HPT/Local GPs re: controlling

outbreak, whilst advising the Pro Vice

Chancellor Student Life and Learning of the

situation

Head of Student Welfare & Well-being advises

Head of Residential Life/Accommodation

Services of any control actions required

Head of Residential Life to monitor situation in

University halls and advise Head of Student

Welfare & Well-being of any further issues

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Communication

Upon confirmation of diagnosis of a notifiable infectious disease PHE will take over the

management of the case/ outbreak.

The Pro Vice Chancellor Student Life and Learning shall devise a suitable internal and

external communication strategy in response the outbreak, under the direction of PHE.

Information to be circulated internally may include but is not limited to;

Direct communication / advice issued by PHE,

Confirmation of an infectious disease case/ outbreak,

Symptoms typically associated with the respective disease,

Prevention strategies,

Reporting procedures for suspected cases,

Signposting to internal support for staff and students.

All forms of internal and external communication must be circulated via the External Relations

team.

Key Responsibilities

Director of Estates

Depending on the scale of an outbreak, the Estates Department may have a significant

involvement to help with the management and containment of an infectious disease.

Under the instruction of the Head of Legal Services, Governance and Risk, the Director of

Estates shall allocate the resources as required to help contain an outbreak, operationally this

may involve the deployment of Domestic Services staff to assist with infection control. In

addition, specialist external agencies may also be required depending on the scale of the

incident. The Accommodation Office and Campus Services will also be required to enact the

advice of PHE in the event that isolation of staff/ students is required.

Senior Management Team

The University’s Senior Management team may need to be convened to discuss;

Implementation of the University’s Major Incident Plan – depending on the scale of the

outbreak.

External Communication strategy

Impact on staffing

Drawing up an incident risk assessment

Instigating a post incident investigation and review.

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APPENDIX 1

Current List of Notifiable Infectious Diseases

Acute encephalitis

Acute poliomyelitis

Anthrax

Cholera

Diphtheria

Dysentery

Food poisoning

Leprosy

Leptospirosis

Malaria

Measles

Meningitis

Meningococcal septicaemia

Mumps

Ophthalmia neonatorum

Paratyphoid fever

Plague

Rabies

Relapsing fever

Rubella

Scarlet fever

Smallpox

Tetanus

Tuberculosis

Typhoid fever

Typhus fever

Viral haemorrhagic fever

Viral hepatitis

Whooping cough

Yellow fever

(Note that ALL cases of Tuberculosis, whether pulmonary or not, must be notified)

Please refer to Gov.uk Infectious Diseases website for live information.

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APPENDIX 2

Reportable Diseases

Conditions due to exposure to physical agents and the physical demands of work

malignant disease of bones due to ionising radiation

blood dyscrasia due to ionising radiation

cataract due to electromagnetic radiation

decompression illness

barotrauma resulting in lung or other organ damage

dysbaris osteonecrosis

cramp of the hand or forearm due to repetitive movements

subcutaneous cellulitis of the hand

bursitis or subcutaneous cellulitis arising at or about the knee or elbow

due to severe or prolonged external friction or pressure

traumatic inflammation of the tendons of the hand or forearm or of the

associated tendon sheaths

carpal tunnel syndrome

hand-arm vibration syndrome

Inflammation, ulceration or malignant disease of skin due to ionising

Radiation

Infections due to exposure to biological agents

anthrax

brucellosis

avian/ovine chlamydiosis

hepatitis

legionellosis

leptospirosis

lyme disease

q fever

rabies

streptococcus suis

tetanus

tuberculosis

infection reliably attributed to work with micro-organisms, work with live or

dead human beings in the course of providing any treatment or service or

in conducting any investigation involving exposure to blood or body fluids,

work with animals or any potentially infected material derived from any of

the above

Conditions due to exposure to substances

poisonings by acrylamide monomer; arsenic or one of its compounds;

benzene or a homologue of benzene; beryllium or one of its compounds;

cadmium or one of its compounds; carbon disulphide; diethylene dioxide;

ethylene oxide; lead or one of its compounds; manganese or one of its

compounds; mercury or one of its compounds; methyl bromide;

nitrochlorobenzene or a nitro or aminoor chloro-derivative of benzene or a

homologue of benzene; oxides of nitrogen; phosphorus or one of its compounds.

cancer of a bronchus or lung

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primary carcinoma of the lung with evidence of silicosis

cancer of urinary tract

bladder cancer

peripheral neuropathy

chrome ulceration of the nose/throat/skin of hands or forearm

folliculitis or acne from exposure to mineral oil, tar, pitch or arsenic

skin cancer

byssinosis

mesothelioma

lung cancer

asbestosis

cancer of nasal cavity or associated air sinuses

occupational dermatitis

extrinsic alveolitis

occupational asthma