Health Protection
Our local NHS Health Protection Team (HPT) provide support and advice on all aspects of health protection in children and young people settings.
When to contact HPT
Staff should contact the HPT in the following situations:
• Unusual levels of absence – An unusual level of absence or rapidly increasing number of absences, for any reason. What is unusual should be determined by the staff in the setting based on what is a normal level of absence.
• A cluster of the same infection – Reports of two or more cases of the same infection. This is known as a cluster. For example, two parents from different families reporting their children have been told they have whooping cough. It is particularly important to contact the HPT if you identify two or more infections circulating at the same time in the same group of people, for example, chicken pox and scarlet fever in the same primary class.
• A single case of more severe disease – A single case of more severe disease (for example, needing a visit or overnight stay in hospital) due to an infection in someone who works or normally attends your setting.
Our local HPT are keen to be informed about cases of Scarlett Fever, impetigo and Group A Strep, especially when circulating with other infections such as chicken pox / flu. They also welcome information about single cases of measles, meningitis or bloody diarrhoea.
Children and staff who are unwell should not attend school or nursery. Certain illnesses have different conditions that should be met prior to a child or staff member returning. This could be the 48-hour rule for when a person has experienced diarrhoea /and or vomiting or the requirement for a specific amount of antibiotic treatment to be taken prior to returning, such as with whooping cough. Sometimes Public Health formally exclude individuals and only when these restrictions are officially lifted can an individual return. In all cases of ill-health, the individual must feel well enough to return.
Health protection in children and young people settings, including education guidance
The above information is built into the Health protection in children and young people settings, including education guidance which is available via the following link: Health protection in children and young people settings, including education
Staff can look up information on diseases or infections reported in the: Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z
Children and young people, or their parents or carers, seeking information about infections or diseases should refer to information on NHS inform or contact their GP services if they are concerned.
Public Health Scotland have produced a helpful poster for parents and carers providing advice on whether to keep their child off school or childcare. Where possible this should be displayed in your school: Should I keep my child off school or childcare?
If you have questions
Staff should contact the HPT on 01387 272724 (option 6) if you have concerns or questions about infectious diseases. The team provide support and advice on all aspects of health protection in children and young people settings. It is better to phone HPT than to email to discuss suspected outbreaks or incidents.
However, email can be used for non-urgent queries. Please email dg.hpt@nhs.scot and cc Lindsay.Greene@dumgal.gov.uk
Early involvement of the HPT is essential, and staff should not try to manage suspected outbreaks without the support of the HPT.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway Health Protection Team contact details can be found via the following link: Health protection team contacts – General enquiries – Contact us – Public Health Scotland
