# SOP 1b COVID19 and PANDEMIC BUSINESS CONTINIITY …€¦ · x T h is SOP sets out the actions to be taken in the event of a disease such as COVID19 leading to large number of people

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1B. COVID 19 / PANDEMIC BUSINESS

CONTINUITY PLAN

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

PURPOSE

• In the event of a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease vital business processes

still need to be carried out.

• This SOP sets out the actions to be taken in the event of a disease such as COVID19

leading to large number of people being away for work and related disruption to

business.

• In view of the urgency this SOP has been written as an appendix to the existing

Business Continuity Plan (SOP 1).

SCOPE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SOP

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read and implemented in conjunction with SOP1.

• This SOP focuses on Information Governance and Data Protection and links to the NHS

Coronavirus Standard Operating Procedure which can be found here:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/coronavirus-standard-operating-procedures-for-

primary-care-settings/ (accessed 13.03.2020)

• If you have any queries about this SOP, or amendments / corrections please contact I.G.

Lead Steve Turner. Call / text / message on 07931 919 330 or email

[email protected]

Document revision history:

Date Section Reason Notes

13.03.2020 All New SOP Circulated to Directors to check.

17.03.2020 Added in advice from ICO and NHSX.(See procedure 1 & Appendix 1 &3).

Circulated to Directors to check.

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Procedure Responsibility

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Data Protection and Sharing Information

A: Ensure all staff read and follow this information from the information Commissioner: ‘Data protection and coronavirus: what you need to know -Information Commissioner’

https://ico.org.uk/coronavirus (accessed 16.03.2020)

B: Ensure all staff are aware of this COVID 19 Information Governance Advice from NHS Digital: https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/key-information-and-tools/information-governance-guidance (accessed 16.03.2020) NB: This guidance only supports the use of mobile messaging Apps ‘where there is no practical alternative and the benefits outweigh the risk.’ If any staff have any queries or concerns about sharing information, please:

• Check the urgency, act accordingly & consult the Pharmacy Manager

• Act to save lives & protect the vulnerable

• Fully document your actions & reason for them and keep a contemporaneous log (this doesn’t need to be wordy, just clear, signed and dated).

• If you have any concerns or questions, check with Steve Turner (I.G. Lead) but do not delay your action(s) if you believe lives are at risk.

See appendix 3 for a poster.

Pharmacy Managers

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Ensure familiarity with SOP 1

Check and confirm that SOP 1 Business Continuity Plan has been fully completed with your local Pharmacy information , is understood by and is signed by all staff.

Pharmacy Manager

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Staff education

Ensure all relevant staff have access to available information and resources, summarised here: http://www.carerightnow.co.uk/coronavirus-in-community-pharmacies-uk/

Pharmacy Manager

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Deliveries

When delivering to people who are self-isolating implement procedure whereby the Delivery Driver does not come into physical contact with the person. (This may involve the Delivery Driver signing for the recipient to avoid contact).

Pharmacy Manager

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Verifying identities

In view of a potential increase in requests from health professionals, who may work in areas you have not been involved with before. Check and verify identities carefully.

• When applicable, verify the registration of health professionals /prescribers:

o To check the GMC Register, click here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/the-medical-register

o To check the NMC Register, click here: https://www.nmc.org.uk/registration/search-the-register/

• To check the Pharmacist Register: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/registers

• To check the HPC Register: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/

All staff

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Potential for civil unrest

It may now be appropriate to:

• Review in-premises security arrangements.

• Review the physical security of the premises.

• Check on use of shutters and other barriers to entry.

• Confirm the names of trades people to contact in case of broken windows and forced entry, and alarm systems.

• Check and, if necessary, increase the number of ways in which the Pharmacy can be contacted. i.e. Number of ‘phone lines, web site access, email access etc.

Pharmacy Directors

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Keeping up to date

Share and follow the NHS SOP ‘Coronavirus: Standard operating procedures for primary care settings’: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/coronavirus-standard-operating-procedures-for-primary-care-settings/ Amongst other things the above NHS guidance covers: Patient contact; Patient information; Post-transfer actions; Incident management. The guidance states: Bookmark and regularly review the hyperlinks to official guidance from PHE and NHSEngland and NHS Improvement to ensure up-to-date knowledge and any changes to protocols: •Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice •PHE COVID-19 interim guidance for primary care •Management of a suspected case of 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease (no link available) •NHS –patient-facing information •NHS resources for GPs, hospitals and other NHS settings ' (Links checked 17.03.2020) Links are listed in Appendix 1.

Pharmacy Managers to inform all staff

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Resources

On-line access to Information Governance / Data Protection Policy and SOPs:

http://www.carerightnow.co.uk/coronavirus-in-community-pharmacies-uk/

REVIEW PROCEDURE

This procedure will be reviewed in the light of Government & NHS directives, operational

changes, staff changes, and incidents/events/complaints.

In the absence of any events it will be reviewed on or before the date shown below.

Document information:

Document title: COVID 19 / PANDEMIC BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN

Document reference: SOP IG 1b

Prepared by: Steve Turner

Signature:

Date of preparation: 12th March 2020

Effective from: Date Signature

Version: 1.0

Date of next review: April 2021

Version Date Author Notes

1.0 12 Apr 2020 Steve Turner Version 1

1.1 17 Apr 2020 Steve Turner See revision history.

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Staff record

I have signed to say that I have read the policy/procedure and understand its implications.

Staff name Signature Date

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Appendix 1

References:

Specific advice for clinicians (used to produce this SOP):

Data protection and coronavirus: what you need to know -

Information Commissioner

https://ico.org.uk/coronavirus (accessed 16.03.2020)

Information Governance Update (NHS)

https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/key-information-and-tools/information-governance-guidance

(accessed 16.03.2020)

Other information sources:

Latest Government Information:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

(accessed 12.03.2020)

DHSC Coronavirus action plan pages:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-action-plan (accessed

12.03.2020)

letter from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer to community pharmacy teams

providing a general update was published on the 9th March 2020.

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NHS Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) standard operating

procedure:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20200305-COVID-19-

PRIMARY-CARE-SOP-COMM-PHARM-PUBLICATION-V1.1.pdf

(accessed 12.03.2020)

GPhC How we will continue to regulate in light of novel

coronavirus (Covid-19)

https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/news/how-we-will-continue-regulate-light-novel-

coronavirus-covid-19 (accessed 12.03.2020)

PSNC COVID19 information:

https://psnc.org.uk/the-healthcare-landscape/covid19/ (accessed 12.03.2020)

RPS COVID-19 information page:

https://www.rpharms.com/coronavirus (accessed 12.03.2020)

NHS 111 page:

https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 (accessed 12.03.2020)

NHS England Coronavirus guidance for clinicians

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/

(accessed 12.03.2020)

World Health Organisation

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

(accessed 12.03.2020)

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(accessed 12.03.2020)

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APPPENDIX 2

Date of access 13.03.2020:

11 Appendix 3 COVID19 Information Governance Poster

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NOTES: