TY - JOUR
T1 - Response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza in Australia lessons from a State health department perspective
AU - Weeramanthri, T.S.
AU - Robertson, A.G.
AU - Dowse, G.K.
AU - Effler, P.V.
AU - Leclercq, M.G.
AU - Burtenshaw, J.D.
AU - Oldham, S.J.
AU - Smith, David
AU - Gatti, K.J.
AU - Gladstones, H.M.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - This article reviews the lessons that can be learned by the health sector, in particular, and the public sector, more generally, from the governmental response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A (pH1N1) in Australia during 2009. It covers the period from the emergence of the epidemic to the release of the vaccine, and describes a range of impacts on the Western Australian health system, the government sector and the community. There are three main themes considered from a State(A) government agency perspective: how decisions were influenced by prior planning; how the decision making and communication processes were intimately linked; and the interdependent roles of States and the Commonwealth Government in national programs. We conclude that: (a) communications were generally effective, but need to be improved and better coordinated between the Australian Government, States and general practice; (b) decision making was appropriately flexible, but there needs to be better alignment with expert advice, and consideration of the need for a national disease control agency in Australia; and (c) national funding arrangements need to fit with the model of state-based service delivery and to support critical workforce needs for surge capacity, as well as stockpile and infrastructure requirements.
AB - This article reviews the lessons that can be learned by the health sector, in particular, and the public sector, more generally, from the governmental response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A (pH1N1) in Australia during 2009. It covers the period from the emergence of the epidemic to the release of the vaccine, and describes a range of impacts on the Western Australian health system, the government sector and the community. There are three main themes considered from a State(A) government agency perspective: how decisions were influenced by prior planning; how the decision making and communication processes were intimately linked; and the interdependent roles of States and the Commonwealth Government in national programs. We conclude that: (a) communications were generally effective, but need to be improved and better coordinated between the Australian Government, States and general practice; (b) decision making was appropriately flexible, but there needs to be better alignment with expert advice, and consideration of the need for a national disease control agency in Australia; and (c) national funding arrangements need to fit with the model of state-based service delivery and to support critical workforce needs for surge capacity, as well as stockpile and infrastructure requirements.
U2 - 10.1071/AH10901
DO - 10.1071/AH10901
M3 - Article
C2 - 21108910
SN - 0156-5788
VL - 34
SP - 477
EP - 486
JO - Australian Health Review
JF - Australian Health Review
ER -