Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

3.2 Establish and maintain influenza services

What are influenza services

Influenza services are services which have been developed, or modified to specifically manage or support influenza cases, including home care, flu clinics, hospitals and mental health services.

Home Care

If they are able and well enough, influenza patients will be encouraged to remain in their home for the duration of their illness. Many people, however, will require both health and social support to be able to do so.

Information on self care, reducing the risk of infection to others and caring for people with pandemic influenza will be available from government websites and through health department call centres. Information on social support will be available from government websites and call centres.

Flu Clinics

All state and territory health departments are planning to establish special flu clinics in the community or in existing hospitals to help prevent the spread of infection by keeping potentially infectious patients separate from other patients being seen in general practices and hospitals. Flu clinics will also help to ensure that general practices and hospitals do not become overloaded, so that life-saving non-influenza health services can be maintained.

Flu clinics will provide rapid access to trained health professionals for anyone who is concerned they may have pandemic influenza.

The staff in the clinics will:

• clinically diagnose pandemic influenza and collect specimens for laboratory diagnosis if needed
• provide antivirals to those who are diagnosed if clinically indicated
• work closely with public health authorities so that people who have been in close contact with a person confirmed to be infectious can be rapidly identified and offered antiviral medication if clinically appropriate
• work closely with local health services to ensure that influenza patients who may require additional medical support can be assessed quickly and treated.

The location, staffing levels and range of services that will be offered by individual flu clinics will be tailored to meet the needs of local communities. Details of how to access the nearest flu clinic will be made available at the time by state and territory health departments via their public information lines.

Jurisdictions are developing staffing models for flu clinics to suit their individual situations. Some jurisdictions plan to use General Practitioners on a voluntary basis within flu clinics. It is important for General Practitioners to check their jurisdiction’s policy for staffing these services.

In some jurisdictions, General Practice based influenza services will form part of a coordinated jurisdictional approach in areas of need. State and territory health departments may ask General Practices to nominate as influenza services.
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Primary Care

The roles and responsibilities of primary care providers during a pandemic will vary according to the arrangements operating within their jurisdiction and the phase of the pandemic. Roles may include:

• assisting with the early detection of cases and provision of appropriate care
• treating patients with pandemic influenza
• maintaining life-saving non-influenza services
• supporting families during anxious times
• providing care in the home setting (if appropriate)
• providing care in new flu clinics and/or at other influenza specific services.

Acute services (hospitals)

It is anticipated that the majority of people with pandemic influenza will be able to remain at home during their illness and will not require hospital care. State and territory health departments will provide specialist influenza in-patient health care services. They may reorganise some hospital services to meet the needs of patients who might require care in a hospital, and will work with the private sector to manage hospital capacity. The AHPC will work collaboratively to manage critical care resources.

Psychosocial services

An influenza pandemic—even a relatively mild one—is likely to create emotional challenges for many members of our society, especially those who have lost loved ones.

All governments in Australia recognise that there will be an increase in demand for counselling services and for community psychological support. Help-lines will provide details of how to access these services.

Phase snapshot: Influenza services

PHASE	HEALTH ACTION
ALERT	Prepare policy and processes
DELAY	Get ready to implement influenza services, including psychosocial support (implement to manage concerned members of the general public if general practices and hospitals are overloaded with people seeking advice) Prepare to enhance influenza services in later phases
CONTAIN	Implement influenza services (not already implemented)
SUSTAIN	Continue influenza services
CONTROL	Consider downscaling influenza services, as appropriate to local needs Evaluate effectiveness of influenza services
RECOVER	Get ready to re-implement effective measures if a subsequent wave is imminent Continue psychosocial support and other influenza recovery services
Linked documents	Interim Infection Control Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza in Healthcare and Community Settings (June 2006) Interim National Pandemic Influenza Clinical Guidelines (June 2006) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service Annex (under development) Pathology Annex (under development) Pharmacy Annex (under development) Primary Care Annex (under development)

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This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008