Bosses plan for swine flu; HEALTH: Region on alert for October pandemic.

Byline: Alison Dayani

HEALTH and education bosses have refined plans to deal with a second more aggressive wave of swine flu in the region in the coming month as pupils prepare to go back to school.

As Birmingham was caught off-guard when the H1N1 struck with the first, most severe outbreak in the country in May, executives are making sure they are prepared for a more severe pandemic in October.

City education directors have been working on extra plans over summer and a bank of retired nurses are waiting in the wings to step into action as part of the latest strategy, Britain's chief nurse Dame Christine Beasley revealed.

A Birmingham City Council spokeswoman said a Flu Action Plan was in place at the authority, along with newer plans for schools on when closures could be enforced.

An action plan includes the authority restricting mass gatherings, such as concerts and sporting events, to stop the spread of the virus; restricting travel across the city in heavilyinfected suburbs and organising school closures and even residential care homes.

Council chiefs are also prepared for the possibility that they may have to establish books of condolence, memorials and extra mortuary space for dead bodies if the number of fatalities rises to unprecedented levels.

Chief nurse Dame Christine visited Birmingham to praise staff involved in the first outbreak at Badger Group, in the city centre. "Lessons can always be learned," said Dame Christine.

"We are now able to ramp things up more quickly because we are better prepared."

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has warned that more cases of swine flu are likely to cause havoc to business and force employers to breach new working-time directives as they strive to cover for sick colleagues.

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Visit: Chief Nurse Dame Christine Beasley at the Badger Group.