National pandemic flu service digital services Direction 2015

The National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) is designed to supplement the response provided by primary care if the pressures during an influenza pandemic mean that it is no longer practical for all those with symptoms to be individually assessed by a doctor or other health care professionals in order to access antiviral medicines.

The NPFS comprises an online and telephony self-assessment service where individuals are not assessed by a clinician but follow a process of answering questions which have been developed with extensive advice from clinicians, which determine whether the person who is ill is eligible for an antiviral medicine or not. Individuals may also be directed to other health interventions such as self-care advice at home or referral to the emergency services for an ambulance response.

Sections 254(1) and (6), 274(2) and 304(9), (10) and (12) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and Regulation 32 of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions.

This Direction came into force in 2015.