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Emergency planning

Emergency planning involves making NHS contingency plans and preparing for specific types of disasters and attacks.  

Latest updates

5th April 2011

NHS Emergency Planning Guidance: planning for the management of burn-injured patients in the event of a major incident: interim strategic national guidance.

This guidance gives best practice guidance to National Health Service (NHS) organisations in planning, preparing and responding to incidents and emergencies that give rise to burn injuries regardless of cause, source or nature. This includes chemical, biological and radiological incidents. The principles apply regardless of the number of patients being treated. The guidance covers adults and children.

January update

24 January 2011:

Training in health care emergency planning and response

The Department of Health fund an extensive training programme delivered by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to support the NHS in  England in planning and preparing for major incidents.  In addition to classroom based courses, HPA provide a number of e-learning self teach modules. Anyone with a NHS e-mail address can take advantage of this e-learning at no cost.

Other organisations with an interest in these e-learning modules will need to obtain endorsement from their local NHS emergency planning contact.  Government departments and other central agencies may similarly approach emergency preparedness contacts in DH for endorsement.  To register on-line please go to:

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Health Protection Agency (opens new window)

The Health Protection Agency is dedicated to protecting people’s health and reducing the impact of infectious diseases, chemical hazards, poisons and radiation hazards.

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