Social services in England will receive guidance later this year on how to deal with flu outbreaks.
In a letter today, national director for social care Kathryn Hudson said the next global flu pandemic would “almost certainly” reach the UK and its impact on social care was likely to be “intense and sustained”.
The guidance will be issued for consultation by the end of September and in final form by December, but Hudson said local authorities and other social care organisations should start planning now for a pandemic.
She said social services should be represented on other contingency bodies such as the influenza pandemic planning committees in each primary care trust.
The guidance will be based on measures set out on the UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan.