Critical Care Action Plan

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today announced plans for an increase in critical care capacity of at least 100 percent across Scotland in readiness for any major surge in the number of cases of H1N1 later this year.

The plans will create the ability to increase, as required, the number of adult ICU beds from 180 to at least 378, and double the number of paediatric beds.

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The expansion in capacity will be achieved by a range of measures, including:

• The identification and redeployment of staff, and where appropriate recruitment and upskilling of contingency staff
• The purchase of 40 extra adult ventilators and 15 extra paediatric ventilators (at a cost of around £1.4 million)
• The upgrading of high dependency beds to ICU level.
• The postponement, as necessary, of inpatient elective and outpatient activity.

Ms Sturgeon said:

"The potential threat from H1N1 remains serious. Even if it continues to be a relatively mild virus, its effects on the health service and on the wider economy could be highly disruptive.

"That is why we continue to press ahead with our plans for responding to the virus and the impact of seasonal flu.

"Critical care capacity is not just an issue of available beds or cots. It requires consideration of staffing resources - in terms of numbers and training, as well as necessary equipment and supplies.

"Even though the virus remains mild in the vast majority of cases, these preparations are a prudent move in order to be able to cope with a reasonable worst case scenario.

"The additional capacity will be activated only as and when the impact of H1N1 requires it. If and when this happens, it is inevitable that there will be an impact on routine and elective hospital activity. However, it is essential that the NHS is able to respond in this way to the demands that a flu pandemic will place upon it.

"We are already in strong position to cope with the peak in cases expected over autumn and winter and we will continue to prepare in a way that neither exaggerates the threat, nor encourages complacency.

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