The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Notifiable Diseases - under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations January 2010

Transcription

1 The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust tifiable Diseases - under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations January 2010 Version.: 4.3 Effective From: 28 October 2015 Expiry Date: 28 October 2018 Date Ratified: 27 October 2015 Ratified By: IPCC 1 Introduction This Policy outlines the duties and responsibilities of doctors in notifying patients with tifiable Diseases to Public Health England and the mechanisms by which to do this. 2 Policy Scope This procedure applies to all Medical staff defined as Registered Medical Practitioners. 3 Duties (Roles and responsibilities) 3.1 The Chief Executive has overall responsibility for the implementation, monitoring and review of this procedure 3.2 This responsibility is delegated to the Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) 3.3 The Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPCC) will review the procedure and any new evidence base within the time frame set out in the procedure 3.4 It is the responsibility of the Trust to ensure that policies, education, training and procedures are in place to enforce the policy 3.5 It is the responsibility of the Trust/line managers and service heads to ensure that policies, procedures and access to education and training are made available to all relevant staff 3.6 It is the responsibility of all relevant staff to ensure that they understand and implement this policy and attend training sessions as specified in their role 4 Definitions IPC Infection Prevention and Control DIPC Director of Infection Prevention and Control IPCC Infection Prevention and Control Committee RMP Registered Medical Practitioner Page 1 of 8

2 5 tification duties of registered medical practitioners 5.1 Doctors in England and Wales have a statutory duty to notify a 'Proper Officer' of the Local Authority or local Health Protection team (HPT), Public Health England rth East of suspected cases of certain infectious diseases. The attending Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP), should fill out a notification certificate immediately on diagnosis of a suspected notifiable disease and should not wait for laboratory confirmation of the suspected infection or contamination before notification. The certificate should be sent to the Proper Officer within three days or verbally within 24 hours if the case is considered urgent. 5.2 RMPs attending a patient are required to notify the proper officer of the local authority in which the patient resides when they have reasonable grounds for suspecting that the patient: has a notifiable disease as listed in Schedule 1 of the tification Regulations; or has an infection not included in Schedule 1 which in the view of the RMP presents, or could present, significant harm to human health (e.g. emerging or new infections); or is contaminated (such as with chemicals or radiation) in a manner which, in the view of the doctor presents, or could present, significant harm to human health; or has died with, but not necessarily because of, a notifiable disease, or other infectious disease or contamination that presents or could present, or that presented or could have presented significant harm to human health. tification of cases of infection not included in Schedule 1 and of contamination are expected to be exceptional occurrences. 5.3 RMPs should not wait for laboratory confirmation or results of other investigations in order to notify a case. This will ensure prompt notification so that health protection interventions and control measures can be initiated as soon as possible. Of the commoner notifiable diseases patients with suspected bacterial meningitis/meningococcal septicaemia, Invasive Group A Streptococcus, E Coli O157 / infectious bloody diarrhoea, measles and legionaires should be phoned through to the number in appendix 1. Please note that RMPs should familiarise themselves with this list notifiable diseases (see Appendix 2). Similarly, RMPs should familiarise themselves with this reporting form also (see Appendix 1). 6 tification Process 6.1 All notifications should be sent to the proper officer via the Health Protection team at Public Health England rth East. Appendix 1 shows the notification form which should be used for all notifications. Page 2 of 8

3 6.2 tifications can be returned to the PHE office by , fax or post. Urgent notifications should be telephoned as below: In hours Tel: option 1 Out of hours For health professionals: To contact a public health professional in an emergency out of hours; in the evenings, at weekends or during bank holidays, please phone: The notification form can be found in Appendix 1 s must be sent via NHS.net only and not from NUTH accounts to preserve confidential information and comply with the Data Protection Act. Should staff need to create a new NHS.net account; this can be done via the Servicedesk on All s sent via NHS net will be secure and therefore do not require to be encrypted. As there are often time limited public health interventions which can be carried out in response to a notification, electronic notifications are preferred. 6.3 Appendix 2 includes a list of notifiable diseases and a guide to what should be regarded as urgent for reporting. Please note this table is only for guidance and each case should be considered individually. Any telephoned notification should be followed up within three days by a written notification. Please note that the new notification regulations do not impact on any existing reporting schemes such as Enhanced Surveillance (e.g. for TB cases) these schemes should continue to be reported on as normal. 7 Training There are no specific excess training requirements other than those in place through BREEZE. 8 Equality and Diversity The Trust is committed to ensuring that, as far as is reasonable practicable, the way we provide services to the public and the way we treat our staff and the public entering our premises reflects their individual needs and does not discriminate against individuals on any grounds. This document has been appropriately assessed. Page 3 of 8

4 9 Monitoring Standard / process / issue tification appropriate Monitoring and audit Method By Committee Frequency Need will be assessed on an individual bases Infection Prevention and Control Team Infection Prevention and Control Committee As needed 10 Consultation and Review This policy has been reviewed by Infectious Diseases and PHE teams 11 Implementation Clinical Leads should ensure that staff are aware of this procedure. This procedure is available for staff to access via NUTH intranet. 12 References Practical guidance on the new law and copies of the actual Regulations are available at: ctiousdiseases/ Page 4 of 8

5 HEALTH PROTECTION (NOTIFICATION) REGULATIONS 2010 NOTIFICATION TO THE PROPER OFFICER OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY Registered Medical Practitioner reporting the case Name Appendix 1 Address Post code Contact number Date of notification tifiable disease Disease, infection or contamination Date of onset of symptoms Date of diagnosis Date of death (if patient died) Has the case been vaccinated against this disease (if relevant) Index case details First name If yes, please give dates of vaccination Surname Gender Male Female DOB Ethnicity NHS number Home address Home post code Current residence if not home address Current residence post code Patient contact number Occupation (if relevant) e.g. Foodhandler, health care worker Work/education/nursery address (if relevant) Work/education/nurserypost code Work/education/nurserycontact number Overseas travel, if relevant (destinations & dates) Please return to the Proper Officer, rth East Public Health England Centre: nenotifications@nhs.net (preferred option) Telephone: Fax: rth East Public Health England Centre, Floor 2, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4WH Page 5 of 8

6 Appendix 2 tifiable diseases, with explanatory notes and guidance on the need for urgent notification NB: This table is only for guidance and each case should be considered individually. tifiable diseases Definition / comment Likely to be urgent? Acute encephalitis Acute meningitis Viral and bacterial., if suspected bacterial infection. Acute poliomyelitis Acute infectious Close contacts of acute hepatitis A and hepatitis hepatitis B cases need rapid prophylaxis. Urgent notification will facilitate prompt laboratory testing. Hepatitis C cases known to be acute need to be followed up rapidly as this may signify recent transmission from a source that could be controlled. Anthrax Botulism Brucellosis unless thought to be UK-acquired Cholera Diphtheria Enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever) Food poisoning Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) Infectious bloody diarrhoea Invasive group A streptococcal disease and scarlet fever Legionnaires Disease Leprosy Malaria Measles Meningococcal septicaemia Mumps Plague Rabies Rubella SARS Smallpox Clinical diagnosis of a case before microbiological confirmation (e.g. case with fever, constipation, rose spots and travel history) would be an appropriate trigger for initial public health measures, such as exclusion of cases and contacts in high risk groups (e.g. food handlers). Any disease of infectious or toxic nature caused by, or thought to be caused by consumption of food or water (definition of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food). See also HUS in Schedule 1 and VTEC in Schedule 2. Post-exposure immunization (MMR or HNIG) does not provide protection for contacts. A person bitten by a suspected rabid animal should be reported and managed urgently, but if a patient is diagnosed with symptoms of rabies, they will not pose a risk to human health. Post-exposure immunisation (MMR or HNIG) does not provide protection for contacts. Clusters and outbreaks, yes. For specific organisms see Table 2., if IGAS., if scarlet fever,, unless thought to be UK-acquired Page 6 of 8

7 Appendix 2 tifiable diseases Definition / comment Likely to be urgent? Tetanus, unless associated with injecting drug use Tuberculosis, unless healthcare worker or suspected cluster or multi drug resistance Typhus Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) Whooping cough, if diagnosed during acute phase Yellow fever, unless thought to be UK-acquired NB: RMPs are also required to notify suspected cases of other infections ( other relevant infection ) or contamination ( relevant contamination ) that present, or could present, significant harm to human health Page 7 of 8

8 THE NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST IMPACT ASSESSMENT SCREENING FORM A Appendix 2 This form must be completed and attached to any procedural document when submitted to the appropriate committee for consideration and approval. Policy Title: tifiable Diseases Policy Policy Author: Dr DA Price /? 1. Does the policy/guidance affect one group less or more favourably than another on the basis of the following: (* denotes protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010) Race * Ethnic origins (including gypsies and travellers) Nationality Gender * Culture Religion or belief * Sexual orientation including lesbian, gay and bisexual people * Age * Disability learning difficulties, physical disability, sensory impairment and mental health problems * Gender reassignment * Marriage and civil partnership * Pregnancy and maternity * 2. Is there any evidence that some groups are affected differently? 3. If you have identified potential discrimination which can include associative discrimination i.e. direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a protected characteristic, are any exceptions N/A valid, legal and/or justifiable? 4(a). Is the impact of the policy/guidance likely to be negative? (If yes, please answer sections 4(b) to 4(d)). N/A 4(b). If so can the impact be avoided? 4(c). What alternatives are there to achieving the policy/guidance without the impact? 4(d) Can we reduce the impact by taking different action? You must provide evidence to support your response: Comments: Action Plan due (or t Applicable): Name and Designation of Person responsible for completion of this form: Dr DA Price Date: 07/07/2015 Names & Designations of those involved in the impact assessment screening process: Dr DA Price (If any reader of this procedural document identifies a potential discriminatory impact that has not been identified on this form, please refer to the Policy Author identified above, together with any suggestions for the actions required to avoid/reduce this impact.) For advice on answering the above questions please contact Frances Blackburn, Head of Nursing, Freeman, or, Karen Pearce, Senior HR Manager (Projects). On completion this form must be forwarded electronically to Steven Stoker, Clinical Effectiveness Manager, (Ext ) steven.stoker@nuth.nhs.uk together with the procedural document. If you have identified a potential discriminatory impact of this procedural document, please ensure that you arrange for a full consultation, with relevant stakeholders, to complete a Full Impact Assessment (Form B) and to develop an Action Plan to avoid/reduce this impact; both Form B and the Action Plan should also be sent electronically to Steven Stoker within six weeks of the completion of this form. IMPACT ASSESSMENT FORM A October 2013