Disease outbreaks and chemical incidents can develop very rapidly - so preparation and emergency planning are essential components in minimising the impact on the public.
The growing threat of global terrorism means we need to be prepared to deal with incidents that could involve chemical, biological, and radioactive materials. This means new plans and new expertise.
The Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response provides a central source of authoritative scientific/medical information and other specialist advice on both the planning and operational responses to major incidents and wider public health or other emergencies.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Programme »
The training division works with partner organisations to deliver specialist courses for healthcare providers and managers. These courses enable delegates to respond effectively to major incidents of all kinds, including the deliberate release of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials.
The Emergency Response Division Exercise Programme »
The Emergency Response Division is running a series of exercises to test emergency preparedness in the health service community. These exercises test and improve the current emergency health plans, helping to ensure that a wide cross-section of organisations can respond in a rapid and co-ordinated way to any deliberate release of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
Deliberate and Accidental Releases »
The Deliberate and Accidental Releases pages provide information targeted at health care professionals and the public on the major biological, chemical and radiological deliberate release threat agents.The information is also relevant when considering naturally occurring outbreaks or accidental releases.
CBRN incidents: A guide to clinical management and health protection »
This guide to clinical management and health protection in major incidents, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, has been written primarily for front line healthcare professionals in emergency departments, but we hope that it will also be useful to others. Although this guide is primarily about accidental or deliberate release of CBRN agents, it also has some sections which are of wider relevance in other emergencies and outbreaks of infectious disease.