Swine flu: it’s time to rein in the doom-mongers

Swine flu: it’s time to rein in the doom-mongers

By Paul Roberts

www.caringforyourbusiness.co.uk

 

This is a great time for doom-mongers. The recession – the worst to hit Britain since the 1930s we are told – has provided enough bad news to depress even the greatest optimists in the past six months.

 

Now, according to the World Health Authority, the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico has led us to the brink of a global pandemic. And alarmists are warning that we could soon be facing ‘plague and pestilence’ of biblical proportions.

 

Before we all go into a state of panic and ‘emergency survival’ mode, we need to look at what is actually happening in Britain and consider the potential threats in a responsible and ‘common sense’ manner.

 

As the number of swine flu cases increase in the UK, our newspapers and TV and radio news channels have been full of ‘worst case scenarios’ in the past week. Amid many calls for calm, we have heard and read the following in graphic detail:

 

·         The UK will be ‘overwhelmed’ by swine flu in the next few months

·         GPs, health centres and hospitals will not be able to cope with increasing numbers of victims

·         A pandemic could kill as many as 750,000 people in the UK in the next two years

·         Undertakers will not be able to cope with the number of dead

·         Millions of people will stay away from work through fear or illness

·         Food shortages will result from ‘panic buying’ in our shops

 

The reports have had ‘panic’ written all over them. Journalists and many others have painted a gloomy picture. But how much of it is fact – and how much of it is scare-mongering?

 

The number of cases of swine flu will no doubt increase in the next few weeks. But how many of those affected here have been seriously ill? None, as far we are aware.

 

There have been a number of swine flu-related deaths in Mexico and of a Mexican child in America. There have been no reported deaths in Britain or Europe.

 

In fact, the vast majority of people diagnosed with swine flu have had ‘mild flu-like symptoms’ (many have said they have felt more unwell with colds).

 

Britain is better prepared than most for a substantial outbreak. We have huge stockpiles of the tamiflu anti-viral drug (more than the whole of the United States).

The government has appointed Ian Dalton, chief executive of NHS North East, as a swine flu ‘tsar’ for England to deal with the threat of a pandemic. His job is to ensure that the NHS is in the best possible position to protect the country’s population.

We have a fantastic National Health Service free to everyone in Britain. Many of us may complain about it, but it is still the envy of nations across the world. 

                                                    

The NHS and Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety have produced a swine flu leaflet for every home in Britain.

It gives invaluable information about how we can protect ourselves and others against swine flu and lists contacts for advice on the flu and travelling abroad.

 

Website pages offering information have been set up by NHS Direct, NHS Choices, the Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency. The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ video is featured on YouTube.

 

The Department of Health has, quite right rightly, warned that a ‘rising tide’ of cases will have a major impact on primary and community care and social care, as it will produce ‘large numbers of sick people for considerable periods’.

It says that in a pre-pandemic stage, health and social care bodies need to identify essential or priority services, allowing them to assess ‘the potential gain in capacity by deferment of non-essential services’.

At its Scotland Conference on May 6, the United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA) said up to 50% of the homecare workforce in Britain could be affected by a pandemic.

Colin Angel, head of policy and communication for the UKHCA, said 15-22% of staff could be off work for up to 2-3 weeks.

He said this – and possibly the first – wave of cases could last 3-5 months. The next wave – if it comes – could ‘be more severe than the first’.

Mr Angel told the Edinburgh conference that:

·         Staff should be informed of company plans to deal with an outbreak

·         Managers should listen to anxieties and try to answer questions, anticipate increased levels of stress and help staff keep a sense of proportion

·         Good staff training is essential in emphasising the importance of personal hygiene

The UKHCA has drawn up pandemic flu guidance for its 1,600-plus members. It includes advice on vaccination, training homecare staff and ideas for ‘emergency plans’. For further details contact www.ukhca.co.uk/flu

The UKHCA guidance shows that homecare is as well prepared as it can be for a pandemic. The Department of Health and NHS is also well prepared for a substantial outbreak.

While we watch and hear with great interest the news of swine flu, maybe we should consider the following:

·         56 people die in accidents on Britain’s roads every week: how much have we heard or read about these deaths?

·         Dozens of people in Britain die each week from other strains of flu virus: how much have we heard or read about these deaths?

·         Between 17,000 and 20,000 die worldwide each week from malaria: how much have we heard or read about these deaths

Why have I listed the above? Because, it gives us the opportunity to put a common-sense perspective on the swine flu outbreak.

This is not a time for panic, scare-mongering or outrageous reporting. Newspaper, radio and TV editors have a duty to report the swine flu outbreak with care and responsibility.

They will argue that we should not ‘shoot the messengers’. But perhaps we should if they sacrifice the facts for sensationalism.

By the autumn of 2009 the situation in Britain may be much worse. But the next few months may be crucial in developing an effective treatment for a potential second wave of swine flu.

So let’s focus on the positives here. The Department of Health, NHS and social care are ‘fronting up’ to the potential crisis. We could not be better prepared for what comes next.

Paul Roberts

www.caringforyourbusiness.co.uk

Roberts Consultants, specialists in developing home care businesses

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