CardiovascularLords' Science Committee Publish Follow-Up Report On Pandemic Flu, UK
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has published
it follow-up report on Pandemic Influenza. The follow-up inquiry, which
was begun in November 2008 before the emergence of swine flu, has
evolved in the course of the inquiry as the new threat of the H1N1 has
become apparent.
While the report praises the Government"s actions in stockpiling
antivirals such as Tamiflu and entering into advance purchase agreements
for pandemic specific vaccines. The Committee criticise other aspects of
the Government"s preparations for the swine flu pandemic. Some of the
criticisms the Committee make include:
* The Committee want clarity on how intensive and critical care
facilities would be expected to perform in a pandemic and where there
are weaknesses in critical care provision which should be addressed.
* The Committee have "significant concerns" about the delay in the
operation of the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) and ask the
Government to explain this delay. They also seek assurances that the
service will be able to meet anticipated demand and be fully operational
by autumn to meet the challenges of the anticipated "second wave" of
swine flu.
* The Committee are disappointed the process of "whole system"
testing (examining how the full range of health services could react in
a pandemic) was not carried our earlier.
* The Committee ask the Government to clarify what interim
services are in place until the "enhanced" NPFS comes on-stream and to
make clear how the service will interact with NHS Direct.
* The report calls on the Government to clarify how they will
ensure NHS staff are supported in providing services that may be outside
their areas of expertise and if they will be protected from legal action
when they provide this treatment. The Committee also want better
guidance on ethical decisions on who could have access to limited flu
treatments/vaccines.
Commenting Lord Sutherland, Chairman of the House of Lords Science and
Technology Committee, said:
"While the Government have got some things right in preparing for a flu
pandemic, such as the stockpiling of antivirals, there are other areas
where we appear to be under prepared.
"We are particularly concerned that the "enhanced" NPFS or "flu line" is
not fully operational and there seems to be a lack of clarity about how
the "interim" flu line will interact with NHS Direct.
"We were surprised and disappointed that the Government had not
undertaken "whole system" testing of health services preparations for a
flu pandemic before swine flu emerged."
House of Lords