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Developing the generic NPHS emergency response

This article discusses the development of a generic emergency response plan for the National Public Health Service (NPHS), addressing the need for a consistent approach in handling different incidents. It highlights the potential confusion from different response plans and the importance of initiating rapid responses when needed. The article also examines the role of the NPHS in non-communicable disease incidents and provides an overview of the emergency response plan in development.

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Developing the generic NPHS emergency response

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  1. Developing the generic NPHS emergency response Dr Gwen Lowe CCDC

  2. Why is this necessary? • Feedback from previous incidents • The potential confusion from different plans • A generic system already developing informally • The problem of initiating little used pathways when rapid responses needed • The Major Incident barrier

  3. Action so far • Emergency response T+F Group- : -role of NPHS in non-communicable disease incidents -generic response pathway for every incident • Emergency Response Plan- in development

  4. Generic National Public Health Service (NPHS) Response to Acute Incidents and Emergencies 27th May 2007 Source of notification or awareness1 See explanatory Key and Notes * Communication links to be amended following review * Inform Lead CCDC, Regional Epidemiologist, Regional Director, LHB, Local Public Health Director, Head of Communications and Local NPHS Microbiologist Notification to NPHS2 First Responder (usually Health Protection Team/First on Call) Outbreak Control Team or Incident Team* Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) Risk Assessment (with others as necessary) Possible Significant incident with triggers for National response? (see Criteria for Assessment)3 Initial Immediate Response Health Advice Team8 or Initial Advice No: local HPT response appropriate Other Local Response* Yes: Discussion of incident with Director of Health Protection and/or Lead CCDC and/or Regional Epidemiologist and/or another member of Senior Management4 If significant incident likely (see Criteria for Assessment) If significant incident likely (See Criteria for Assessment) NPHS Senior Response Team (These individuals may also populate STACs or Outbreak Control Team)5 Communicator Strategic Coordinating Group (incident Gold)7 Science +Technical Advice Cell (STAC)6 Pandemic Influenza Action Support to Incident outside Wales Outbreak Control Team Other Response e.g. lookback

  5. Emergency response plan

  6. Criteria for Assessment 1 • Criteria for Assessment (A) a significant incident with triggers for a national NPHS response exists: • Public Health Impact: any actual or potentially serious health/public health consequences? • Involves more than one Local Authority area? • (Consider extent of implications for other partners as well as Local Authorities). • Requires NPHS resources beyond that readily available to the responding HPT? (Consider complexity of situation and competencies for handling). • Is the problem likely to require a sustained NPHS response? • Is specific expertise needed to determine health threat of/response to unusual or emerging threats? • Is this the first response to a new organism or threat in Wales by NPHS? • Is this a potentially malicious incident?

  7. Criteria for Assessment 2 • (B) in the absence of significant public health incident, a considered NPHS response is needed: • Are there concerns or demands from partner organisations/public for a public health response to a perceived risk? • (Consider impact on NPHS reputation and relationships). • Is there substantial media interest in a public health response to a perceived risk?

  8. NPHS Senior Response Team • Roles: • Assess potential scale and implications of incident (Risk Assessment) • Consider public health response required • Determine contribution of NPHS to public health response • Agree lead roles and responsibilities and staff/resource deployment • Mobilise organisational resources • Consider whether to declare NPHS Major Incident

  9. Factors in developing the plan • Level 1 and 2 – contained within Health Protection with extra support- local team in usual roles supported by other HPTs and SpR/Ts as necessary. Others continue in usual roles • Level 3 – NPHSinvolvement beyond HPT • Two main scenarios: • Classical blue light major incident led by police (so already declared major incident on notification to NPHS) needing NPHS involvement • Potentially serious incident needing investigation and possible control measures by NPHS (usually in partnership with other agencies). This might need the NPHS to declare its own major incident • Level 4+5 NPHS major incident

  10. Level 3 and beyond • Action cards for key personnel/ roles- many of the actions in both scenarios are the same. However classical major incident requires extra actions to be taken initially • Integration of features of pandemic flu plan as to how NPHS reconfigures in major emergency situations • Appendices- situation specific plans, outbreak plans + continuity plans

  11. Any Questions? • Still very much in development stage • Questions and comments welcomed

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