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Swine Flu

Volume 497: debated on Wednesday 14 October 2009

20. To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to assist acute hospital trusts in which levels of accident and emergency department admissions have increased as a result of the swine influenza pandemic. (292247)

The NHS, including acute hospitals, has been preparing for pandemic influenza for several years, and all organisations have robust plans in place that cover the whole health economy. These have recently been tested by a series of comprehensive exercises and confirmed by each Board’s assurance statements during September.

The Department has also issued guidance on surging capacity so that hospitals can care for increased numbers of admissions.