Influenza A (H1N1) (Human Swine Flu) Information
15 September 2009
Members will naturally be concerned about the increase in rates of infection of the H1N1 swine flu virus.
Click here for a Q&A document, produced by the Scottish Parliament for GP practices in Scotland, on vaccination issues relating to the H1N1 virus.
The GMC has published advice in the form of revised guidance on their website, amending Good Medical Practice 2006. This is for use when UK level 3 of an influenza pandemic is announced.
The advice is available here (updated in November 2009).
The difficult issue of personal risk and safety during a pandemic is dealt with in paragraph 10 which reads as follows:
10. All patients are entitled to care and treatment to meet their clinical needs. You must not refuse to treat a patient because their medical condition may put you at risk. If a patient poses a risk to your health or safety, you should take all available steps to minimise the risk before providing treatment or making suitable alternative arrangements for treatment.
In a pandemic, many doctors will have legitimate concerns about the risks of infection they face, or the additional risks to which they may expose their family, particularly if family members are identified as being in an ‘at-risk' group. At the same time, the public has a legitimate expectation of receiving medical advice and help from the profession during a pandemic. The balance between protecting individual doctors and their families from harm, and ensuring patients are not put at unnecessary risk, is best addressed at local level, taking into account the principle that those who place themselves at additional risk should be supported in doing so and the risks and burdens minimized as far as possible. You should discuss with your employing or contracting body any concerns you have about health and safety for yourself or your family. You should do this, if possible, in advance of UK alert level 3 being declared.
Members should contact their employing trust or PCT for further advice.
Further advice can also be obtained from the HPA Flu Response Centres.
As always, if you have specific medicolegal concerns you should contact MPS on 0845 605 4000 and speak to a medicolegal adviser.