title: Chapter 6. Protection of patients and staff during a pandemic. Recommendations and standard operating procedures for intensive care unit and hospital preparations for an influenza epidemic or mass disaster.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on protection of patients and staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including protection of patients and staff.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key recommendations include: (1) prepare infection control and occupational health policies for clinical risks relating to potential disease transmission; (2) decrease clinical risks and provide adequate facilities through advanced planning to maximise capacity by increasing essential equipment, drugs, supplies and encouraging staff availability; (3) create robust systems to maintain staff confidence and safety by minimising non-clinical risks and maintaining or escalating essential services; (4) prepare formal reassurance plans for legal protection; (5) provide assistance to staff working outside their normal domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for protection of patients and staff are necessary to optimise outcomes during a pandemic.
authors.affiliation: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hants, PO63LY, UK. bruce.taylor@porthosp.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Bruce L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Hugh E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sprung
mesh_terms: D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D016272:Occupational Health; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control; D000078329:Workforce