The Health Care Inspectorate and the Inspectorate for Youth Care say care institutions in the Netherlands are well prepared for an influenza pandemic.

The inspectorates asked more than 1155 hospitals, GP practices, nursing homes, ambulance services, home care, youth care, disability, psychiatric and other care institutions to fill in a questionnaire.

More than 80 percent say they have a continuity plan in place which will enable them to continue to function properly even if faced with large numbers of flu cases. The inspectors also noted that good anti-infection measures had been implemented.