Canterbury Flu Group Shorter ED Stays Winter Planning April 2013

Influenza Response Strategy Started with Pandemic planning Establishment of CPPG Sponsored by CDHB Linking key Groups Whole Health Response Preserve Secondary Care

Canterbury Flu Group Canterbury Primary Response Group (CPRG) co-ordinates primary care providers ‘Flu Group’ (subgroup) was assembled after the successful Pandemic Planning Committee had brought various groups together ‘Flu Group’ meets throughout the year to plan the community response to seasonal influenza One of the main goals is to ease the burden on the ED and the hospital

Canterbury Flu Group Wide membership Primary care Secondary care Public Health Infectious diseases Clinical virology Planning and Funding CDHB Communications team CDHB Emergency Planning Out of Hours providers PHOs Community Pharmacy Laboratory services Immunization co-ordinators CDHB senior management team rep.

Local Fluline: General Practice Streamed Clinics Designated General Practice Clinics Health Sector Communications Canterbury Influenza Response 2010 Public Messaging Emergency Dept and/or Hospital Influenza Vaccination Programme

Activities of the Flu Group Meets monthly until flu season starts then meetings called as required and may be weekly Community and Public Health reports on influenza intelligence …local, national and international Works on the timeline with the major groups reporting at each meeting Ensures that public messages are consistent

FunctionIntelligence ImmunisationCommunity Response Management Tamiflu Flu Line Lead AgencyC&PHISLACPRGPlanning & FundingP & F/CPRG FebruaryMonitor Northern Hemisphere flu trends Advise Flu Group on like impact on NZ flu season Advise on current infectious risk situation within Canterbury Advise on immunisation strategy and approved funding arrangements for the upcoming flu season. Confirm arrival dates of this year’s vaccines Communications package to support strategy Primary Care advised Advise General Practice on ordering vaccines Develop contingency plans for a range of community based response options (the Influenza Toolkit) Manage and review specific projects to assist community based flu response: e.g. SWAP Coordinate the creation of annual flu 5 year plan Chair Flu Group Meetings as required Provide ongoing updates and advice to Primary Care Advise CDHB Comms Staff on matters affecting any response Be a point of contact for media of flu matters affecting the community Develop and promote safe waiting area project Confirm response options available and implications Identify likely trigger factors and implications Confirm Tamiflu availability and any restrictions. Ensure automated system is operational Have a full telephone information package covering all our flu response options Annual Community Based Flu Response Tasks (Feb 2013)

Timeline for the present month and reports Immunization Fluline General Practice Designated General practice clinics Emergency Department / Hospital Planning and Funding CPRG Communication public messaging internal communication

Timeline for the present month and reports from each group An example: Immunization 1. General immunization of at risk groups 2. Staff immunization 3. Free vaccine for under 18’s offered again 2013 …School based programs previous week 25% uptake ? Re scripting by communications ….Immunization of 0-5s at GPs

Timeline for the present month Report from Communications Comms outlines early campaign for 2013 Plans family oriented messages Notes that advertising needs to point to Flu Line Will meet with GP and Vaccinator from Flu Group to organize messages for …. Fluline …..messages for General Practices Comms. to work with Clinical Virologist, GP to develop strategy to reach parents of under 5’s Reports that media is making enquiries already

Media Interest

Primary CareDesignated Clinics Secondary Care CommunicationsMeeting Schedule CPRG EDDHB CommsCPRG Order VaccinesDevelop and promulgate plans for activating Clinics Intel to Flu Group Confirm Tamiflu availability for Rx and prophylactic doses for patients Identify trigger points for Patient Flow and Swabbing Coordinate comms package to support the flu strategy Advise on additional communications effort required to support other identified infectious risks Present/discuss draft communications plan for flu strategy Focus: Lessons from Northern Hemisphere Intel Update Confirm funding decisions and implications Response Options Communications Plan Annual Community Based Flu Response Tasks (Feb 2013)

New Zealand November 2012

Influenza report from USA

Strengths of the Flu Group Co-ordinates ‘Flu ‘ activities for the region Revises the annual Flu Strategy based on new information and the current level of ILI Encourages the Flu Vaccination program and changes it if required Plans communications for health providers and for the public Closely monitors the influenza season and the impact it has on each part of the health system All the ‘right ‘ people at the meetings Provides consistent messages to the Public

Strengths of the Flu Group Develops strategies for ongoing Tamiflu use This year… members to work with GPs to provide advice for management of flu in rest homes Most importantly…..the Flu Group members know each other well and these relationships enable the group to manage any changes during the flu season and unexpected situations outside of seasonal influenza