Planning for pandemics and emergencies
The Civil Defence Emergency Act (2002) and subsequent amendments requires all health and disability service providers to have a plan that can meet the expected delivery of essential primary, secondary and tertiary services in the event of a major health emergency occurring, whether that be local, regional or national.
The Civil Defence Emergency Act (2002) and subsequent amendments requires all health and disability service providers to have a plan that can meet the expected delivery of essential primary, secondary and tertiary services in the event of a major health emergency occurring, whether that be local, regional or national.
The Ministry of Health ‘Operating Policy Framework’ requires each district health board to have a health emergency plan should an incident occur such as civil defence emergencies, large casualty-causing incidents, major weather events, pandemics or natural disasters.
The health emergency plan provides for both immediate, short duration events and extended emergencies, on both small and large scales. Primary care providers may be required to respond following:
- the declaration of a national pandemic such as influenza
- the declaration of a major outbreak such as measles
- rapid discharge of patients to their home following a major incident
- evacuation of homes following major flooding or toxic hazard spills
- removing pressure from emergency departments for non-critical patients when the department reaches an overload situation
- the declaration of a natural disaster in a region such as an earthquake, fire, volcanic eruption or a tsunami.
Developing a quality pandemic plan will ensure a general practice is well equipped to manage the next outbreak of pandemic influenza or other illnesses that can lead to a declaration of a pandemic, such as the novel coronavirus cluster of viral respiratory illness identified as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) that emerged late in 2019. The plan will provide detail about how the practice will operate before, during and after a pandemic.
Use our templates in the resource section to help guide your planning process.
For more help and support contact your local development manager.
Contact
Development Manager
Development Manager
Development Manager
Development Manager