HUMAN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC PLANNING
Pandemic Preparedness - Exercising
Together with all States and Territories and the Australian Local Government Association, Western Australia participated in Exercise Sustain 08, a series of national exercises held during 2008 to further test national preparedness to respond to an influenza pandemic.
Exercise Cumpston 06
Western Australia participated in the national pandemic exercise Cumpston, which was held in October 2006. This major exercise tested the capacity and capability of the Australian health system to prevent, detect and respond to an influenza pandemic. More information about Cumpston, including the evaluation report of the exercise, is available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/panflu/publishing.nsf/Content/cumpston-report-1.
Exercise Perinthus
In conjunction with Exercise Cumpston, the Western Australian Department of Health conducted Operation Perinthus at Rosalie Park. The exercise, which involved the City of Subiaco, community nurses, GPs and St John Ambulance tested plans to set up and run fever clinics during a influenza pandemic. The ability of fever clinic staff to assess, follow-up and provide antiviral medication to patients was evaluated along with patient monitoring and reporting systems. Operation Perinthus identified several infection control and staffing issues which will be addressed in revised Guidelines for Fever Clinics, an Appendix to the Western Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza.
Western Australian Discussion Exercises
The Office of State Security and Emergency Coordination, RiskCover (a division of the Insurance Commission of Western Australia) and the Department of Health have coordinated two multi-agency discussion exercises to test Western Australian Government agencies' preparedness to continue to deliver critical services in the event of an influenza pandemic.
Thirty-nine organisations including 36 Government agencies participated in a discussion exercise in December 2006 to assess agencies' business continuity plans and pandemic preparedness. A further 30 agencies took part in a similar exercise in November 2007. The exercises have been valuable in highlighting areas requiring further development in agency and whole of government planning. A third multi-agency exercise is planned.
The Office of State Security and Emergency Coordination, together with RiskCover and the Department of Education and Training, developed an exercise focusing on management of school closures during a pandemic. A range of agencies participated in the August 2008 exercise, and its outcomes will be taken into account in reviewing education sector planning for an influenza pandemic.
Pandemic Discussion Exercise Guide
The Office of State Security and Emergency Coordination has developed a guide, Designing a human influenza pandemic discussion exercise, for Western Australian agencies and organisations wishing to hold a discussion exercise to test and improve their pandemic management and/or business continuity plans.