Seasonal flu plan Winter 2011/12

The purpose of this Seasonal flu plan is to set out a coordinated and evidence-based approach to planning for and responding to the demands of seasonal flu across England. It takes account of the experiences and lessons learnt during the 2010/11 flu season. It is intended to assist in the development of robust and flexible operational plans by local organisations and emergency planners within the NHS and across other sectors in England. It will provide the public and healthcare professionals with an overview of the coordination of the preparation for seasonal flu and signposts where further guidance and information can be found. The Seasonal flu plan is not intended to be comprehensive or exhaustive guidance, or to take precedence over other standard operating procedures such as the annual flu letter from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to the NHS and the Immunisation against infectious disease (the Green Book) Influenza chapter, which is updated ahead of flu seasons. The plan will be kept under review and updated as necessary. Healthcare professionals are advised to review the guidance regularly since it has proved necessary on previous occasions to update advice before and during the flu season, and given the nature of influenza viruses, this is likely to happen again. Separately, the UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy 2011 is currently out for consultation until 17 June 2011. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges to which most people do not have immunity. The Pandemic Preparedness Strategy sets out the planning required in order to be ready for this, which is significantly different to responding to routine seasonal flu.