Town prepares defence against 'flu pandemic

EMERGENCY planning chiefs in Warrington have reached an advanced stage in preparing the town’s defences against a possible ‘flu pandemic.
The risk of such an outbreak is considered “very high” according to the Cheshire, Halton and Warrington local resilience forum risk assessment group.
But Warrington is at least at the same state of preparedness as partner agencies and could be ahead of some, according to a report to the borough council’s health scrutiny committee.
Workshops have been held with local funeral directors and clergy to raise awareness of the risk, the potential impact and to encourage them as organisations to develop business continuity plans and consider mutual aid arrangements to enable them to manage any disruption.
Over the next few months, the council intends to engage closer with Warrington Primary Care Trust to ensure plans complement each others expectations.
The final stage of planning will be to talk to trade unions and with staff to raise awareness of plans and also identify and train staff to support critical services if the need arises.
The council has a duty under the Civil Contingencies Act to plan for and respond appropriately to emergency situations such as pandemic influenza.
‘Flu pandemics – a worldwide outbreak of a new virus which people have no immunity to – occurred three times in the last century. They vary in severity but can involve millions of people worldwide becoming ill and many of them dying.
If one breaks out, no country than escape its impact entirely.
Warrington has developed an influenza pandemic response plan which lists the critical services the council would prioritise, says the report.
But it is recognised that the council would be facing an unprecedented challenge and it would be unreasonable to suggest it would be able to deliver the majority of its services.