HPA’s innovative swine flu “response centres” win emergency planning award

14 July 2010

This prestigious accolade was awarded jointly to the HPA and NHS to commend the “Flu Response Centres” that were established by the HPA, with assistance from the NHS, throughout England during the “containment phase” of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Dr Brian McCloskey, Director of the HPA’s London region, collected the award on behalf of the HPA. London, along with the West Midlands, rapidly experienced the burden of swine flu following the arrival of the virus in the UK in April 2009 and both regions were the first in England to establish flu response centres.

Dr McCloskey said: “We are delighted that the hard work by the HPA and NHS to set up fully functional, multi-agency, flu response centres at a time when swine flu was gathering pace and causing major health challenges has been recognised by the judges.

“The nine regional flu response centres in England coordinated the public health management of swine flu prior to the National Pandemic Flu Service going live. The teams involved were tasked with setting up centres staffed by health professionals, including consultants, doctors, nurses and medical students, to provide guidance to health professionals working on the front line. At the height of the pandemic’s first wave, the flu response centres were receiving thousands of calls and providing the latest advice on swabbing, treatment and containment measures.

“All of this was achieved from scratch in a matter weeks during what proved to be a rapidly evolving and high profile incident. It is to the credit of the HPA and NHS teams involved that the capability of mounting a resilient multi-agency response to an emergency situation, in a very short time frame, was demonstrated so successfully.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The Cabinet Office Innovation in Resilience Award is awarded to the individual or organisation who, in the opinion of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and judging panel, has made the greatest contribution during the year to developing innovative thinking and turning new concepts into practical applications to build improved resilience.
2. The Emergency Planning Society Awards recognise individuals and companies who have excelled within the field of emergency planning. Further information about the Emergency Planning Society is available at www.the-eps.org

Media enquiries:
Tycie West, 020 7759 2834 / tycie.west@hpa.org.uk

Last reviewed: 14 July 2010