Contact us
You can get in touch with us using the following email:
swineflu@bradford.ac.uk
()Related external links:
Information for Staff
Key messages:
- Hygiene measures
- Business as usual
- Managing Health Related Absence
- High risk staff in front line positions
- Academic advice for students
- Travel advice
- FAQs
Hygiene measures
Reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue.
- Dispose of used tissues carefully.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an antibacterial gel.
- Clean hard surfaces (e.g. worktops, door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
Antibacterial gel dispensers have now been located close to entrances to all University buildings for use whenever you enter or leave a building. Additional gel dispensers are also available at most reception areas across campus.
The gel is a dry-wipe gel which should be rubbed over palms, fingers and backs of hands until dry. Do not wash off.
Use of the gel will help to stop the spread of infection.
Business as Usual
The University continues to operate Business as Usual. Detailed planning is taking place to prepare for the impact of increased staff absences due to sickness during a pandemic. All of our standard policies and guidelines remain operational. Managers are advised to be pragmatic when dealing with staff queries and if they are concerned about anything specific related to swine flu, then they should email swineflu@bradford.ac.uk or speak to Graham Seed on ext. 3737 or to Jo Hills on ext.5081.
Advice regarding Business Continuity Planning was emailed out to managers on 29th June 2009 with further information circulated at the beginning of July. Managers should check back to those emails if they have further queries or contact Keith Waddingham on ext. 3132 or Jo Hills on ext.5081.
Managing Health Related Absence
As stated above, all standard policies and guidelines remain operational including the new Managing Health Related Absence policy. The only addition to that is the requirement that managers notify the University of any suspected cases of swineflu as soon as they are aware of them by emailing swineflu@bradford.ac.uk
High risk staff in front-line positions
If you consider yourself to be in a high risk group as defined by the NHS (pregnant women, people with chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, over 65s, diabetics, those with suppressed immune systems whether through illness or treatment, those who have received treatment for asthma within the last three years) and are concerned about working in a front-line environment, please discuss your concerns with your line manager as soon as possible.
Swine Flu Advice - Information for Managers regarding High Risk Staff
During our swine flu update of 26 August 2009 we asked front-line staff who considered themselves to be within a high risk group, as defined by the NHS, to discuss their concerns with their line manager as soon as possible.
High risk groups are defined as:
- Pregnant women
- Children and babies
- Long term lung disease sufferers (including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis
- Diabetics
- Liver disease sufferers
- Epileptics
- Immuno-suppressed people (caused by disease or treatment)
- People with kidney disease, chronic heart disease, neurological disease or sickle cell disease
The reason for our request is based on current advice indicating that pregnant women and immuno-suppressed people are more susceptible to catching swine flu and may lead to complications. The other high risk groups are considered to be no more at risk of contracting swine flu than anyone else, but they too are at a greater risk of complications occurring.
For further information about high risk groups refer to "Important information for Bradford and Airedale residents about swine flu".(pdf)
As a line manager you are required to conduct an assessment of staff who have identified themselves as being within the high risk groups and use your discretion in dealing with their concerns. Where necessary you should make reasonable adjustments to staff workload and tasks in a similar way to which you would normally consider for pregnant women working within your area.
Reasonable adjustments may include moving front line staff to a back office role when the role normally exposes the staff member to a higher risk of close contact with the public or students who may be suffering with swine flu. It is not necessary to issue masks to staff, as these are not judged to be appropriate. Neither is it appropriate to deviate from standard procedures, whereby, for example staff are offered paid leave.
Current advice indicates that:
- There is no increased risk for academic staff who may be delivering lectures.
- Staff who may need to be in close proximity to a group of students in order to demonstrate particular techniques may find it beneficial to demonstrate the techniques in a different way (eg use of video links or alternative ICT provision) to decrease the risk of infection.
Encouragement should be given to staff within these higher risk groups, their families and colleagues to practice good hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.
If managers are unsure of actions to take to safeguard the health of the high risk groups of staff they should seek advice from their line managers.
Academic advice to give to students
As stated above, all standard UoB policies and guidelines apply including all academic regulations. Therefore please reiterate to any students that standard mitigating circumstances procedures should be followed if they have to either miss classes, lectures or tutorials or have difficulties submitting an assignment. Any queries regarding mitigating circumstances should be addressed to ASSU.
If you are advised by a student that they have been diagnosed as having swine flu it is vital that you inform us immediately by emailing swineflu@bradford.ac.uk with their full details including their 12 digit reference number or other proof of infection so that the case is logged on the central record. Please ensure that you provide their UB number and details of which course they are studying together with the dates of their illness.
Travel advice
Please see the most up to date advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office regarding swine flu and travel arrangements.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/swine-flu
In particular, please note that this year Hajj pilgrims are required to obtain seasonal flu jabs and in their country of origin two weeks prior to travelling to the Hajj and will be required to produce a valid vaccination certificate. You should carefully consider the information provided on the website of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London before travelling.
New advice for people attending the Hajj
Any Muslim with chronic diseases, pregnant women, elderly people and children have been advised not to make the journey to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage this year.
The strong recommendation has come from the Department of Health that these groups of people should defer performing Hajj or Umrah this year for their own safety.
Anyone planning on attending the Hajj is also being asked to check the website of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London http://saudiarabia.embassyhomepage.com/ and the latest travel advice on Saudi Arabia on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/your-trip/hajj-pilgrims.
New advice from the Saudi Arabian Embassy website (30 October) also no longer requires pilgrims to obtain proof that they have had the seasonal flu jab this year.
Pilgrims are advised to take extra care with good hygiene to limit the spread of the infection. They should use tissues to catch coughs and sneezes and dispose of them in the bin; and wash hands frequently with soap and water to kill germs.
If you have swine flu, or are showing flu like symptoms, do not travel until after your symptoms have stopped and you are feeling better to avoid spreading the virus.
As a precaution, you should make sure you have flu remedies from your local chemist for flu, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
To contact the Department of Health¿s Swine Flu Information Line when abroad, call 0044 207 928 1010.
For all the latest advice and guidance on swine flu, visit NHS Bradford and Airedale¿s website on http://www.bradford.nhs.uk/swineflu/Pages/Swinefluhome.aspx
In addition, pilgrims should be vaccinated with the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (ACWY), which protects against four different strains of meningitis (A, C, W135 and Y). You will be required to produce a valid vaccination certificate and you should consult your GP if you are in any doubt.
Individuals on medication should make sure that they have adequate quantities to cover the time they will be on their pilgrimage.
People within the high risk categories which may become seriously ill with swine flu include:
- pregnant women
People with:
- chronic lung disease or had drug treatment for asthma in the past three years
- cystic fibrosis
- a suppressed immune system (whether caused by disease or treatment)
- diabetes
- sickle cell disease
- chronic neurological disease e.g. multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, muscular dystrophy
- chronic heart disease
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease
As well as:
- children aged under five and people aged over 65.
FAQs
What to do if...
You think you may have swine flu (or you have flu like symptoms and feel very unwell)
National Pandemic Flu Service to help staff and students with swine flu receive a fast diagnosis and support
Staff and students should use the National Pandemic Flu Service as their first port of call for help if they are concerned they may have swine flu, rather than attending their GP practice or the local hospital accident and emergency department.
The National Pandemic Flu Service is a dedicated website and phoneline (0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (Textphone)) for people to check their symptoms and get a unique number which will give them access to antivirals if necessary.
It is particularly important that people with chronic lung, kidney or heart disease, under 5s, over 65s and pregnant women use the service as soon as they have symptoms.
Parents with children under one year should call their GP as soon as possible if their child has symptoms.
People who are diagnosed as having swine flu symptoms will be given a unique access number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is so that a flu friend may collect their medication. Flu friends should be a friend or relative who does not live in the same household (because you may have passed the virus on to them), does not have flu themselves and would help if you fall ill. It is recommended that "flu friends" are at least 16 years of age, have English as their first language and be someone you trust as you may need to provide them with your identification.
People living in the Bradford and Airedale area will be asked to collect medication from the antiviral collection points at either NHS, Douglas Mill, Bowling Old Lane, Bradford BD5 7JR, Boots the chemist, Airedale Shopping Centre, 22-28 Queensway, Keighley. BD21 3PY or Asda pharmacy, Bingley Street, Keighley, BD21 3ER.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
People who may have any of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38 degrees C and above, or feels hot may have swine flu.
The typical symptoms are:
- Sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38 degrees C or above), or feeling hot and
- Sudden cough
Other symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Chills
- Aching muscles
- Limb or joint pain
- Diarrhoea or stomach upset
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Loss of appetite
What should I do if I think that I have swine flu?
STAY AT HOME
Do not visit your GP or Accident and Emergency Department
Go on-line and check your symptoms on https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/
Go on-line for help or information at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
Call the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513
Call the Swine Flu Treatment Line on 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (textphone) or go to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
Follow the normal University of Bradford Health Related Absence policy and report the illness to your manager. They will then report the illness to the confidential email address swineflu@bradford.ac.uk which is managed by Human Resources and used for both staff and students.
STAY AT HOME until the symptoms have disappeared and you are well enough to return to work. This is typically 2 days after the symptoms have disappeared. Symptoms are present for up to 5 days in an adult and up to 7 days in children.
If the condition suddenly gets much worse or the condition is still getting worse after 7 days (5 for children) contact your GP by phone.
- Please be aware that it is important to minimise the risk of spreading infection, by remaining in isolation as far as possible.
- Remain at home, monitoring your symptoms. Do not return to work until 2 days after you are symptom free.
- You should remain in contact with your manager to provide an update on your recovery progress (in accordance with the Managing Health Related Absence policy). The manager should then update HR via swineflu@bradford.ac.uk as we need to maintain an overview of the position within the university.
