Chamber and committees

The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced new pandemic influenza planning phases in 1999 which were then inconsistent with the 1997 UK Health Departments' Influenza Pandemic Plan. A newly updated plan, taking into account the latest available information, was published on 1 March 2005. This plan was consistent with the 1999 WHO phasing. However, the World Health Organization phases have since been revised again. The next version of the UK plan will incorporate these changes.

Plans have been in place since 1997. All NHS boards have submitted their Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plans to the Scottish Executive for initial review. The Scottish Executive will provided feedback to NHS boards to enable them to further develop their plans.

A revised UK Pandemic Plan will be issued shortly, as will a revised Scottish version which reflects the different organisational arrangements in Scotland. Additional guidance will also be issued to NHS boards. These materials will be used to assist in making further improvement to individual NHS board plans. Once that process has taken place, NHS boards will be asked to resubmit their plans for further scrutiny.

No specific allocations are made to NHS boards for NHS publications. The costs of NHS publications are met from the annual allocation each NHS board receives to meet the health care needs of its resident population.

Plans have been in place since 1997, and a newly updated UK Health Department’s UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, taking into account the latest available information, was published on the 1 March 2005. A version reflecting organisational arrangements in Scotland was published on the Scottish Executive website at the same time.

Measures in the plan include informing the public about the likely risks of a pandemic and what they should do and being prepared to take steps to reduce the risk of spread such as advising against certain travel, possibly closing schools and cancelling events where large crowds gather.

The Scottish Executive wants to keep people informed about the risks of a pandemic and what is being done to minimise the impact it would have. That is why the contingency plan has been published. The Scottish Executive recognises that improving preparedness is an on-going process. Issuing the plan and seeking feedback is an important step in this work. Plans will continue to be updated as appropriate.

The Scottish Executive is working with NHSScotland on the planning arrangements for any potential outbreak of pandemic influenza. The extent of the additional resources required will be dependent on the nature and extent of that outbreak.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19440 on 30 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa/search.

The timetable for arrangements for pandemic influenza is being taken forward on a UK basis. The UK is in the forefront of preparations for pandemic influenza and Scotland has been working closely with Health Departments across the UK to put such preparations in place.

The Scottish Executive has ordered approximately 1.3 million courses of oseltamivir (known as Tamiflu), an antiviral medicine (not a vaccine) which may reduce deaths and complications from flu, as part of the UK contract for delivery over the next two financial years. This will enable us to treat one in four of the population – the proportion which the WHO recommends we plan for. If there are insufficient supplies, anti-virals will be provided according to the same priorities as for vaccination, as set out in the Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan.

As stated in the plan, the effectiveness of anti-viral treatment in a pandemic is not known.

Information on the number of NHS staff employed in the production of publications is not held centrally.

Information on the number of NHS staff employed in the production of publications is not held centrally.