Unison issues swine flu guidance for health care members

The public sector union UNISON has issued swine flu guidelines to its members working in hospital and healthcare in the UK.

The guidelines encourage staff to be ‘extra vigilant and diligent’ with infection control and to ensure they know of local pandemic response plans.

They also call on trusts to put in place a nominated board-level director to lead the organisation’s response to swine flu issues such as staff shortages due to high infection rates.

This has been a particular problem of late because so many schoolchildren developing swine flu whose parents work in the NHS, the union said.
 
Karen Jennings, UNISON’s head of health, said: ‘These guidelines will help our members and activists to work together with their employers to manage the local response to this virus.   

‘We all need to work together and ensure we make everyone aware of the steps they should take if they believe they may have the virus,’ she said. ‘Trade unions, the government and employers must work together to help the service during this difficult time.’
 

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