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.
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.
Taylor
Bruce L
BL
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hants, PO63LY, UK. bruce.taylor@porthosp.nhs.uk
Montgomery
Hugh E
HE
Rhodes
Andrew
A
Sprung
Charles L
CL
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