UKDH_080745[1].pdfThe possibility of a worldwide influenza epidemic (a pandemic) presents a real and daunting challenge to the economic and social wellbeing of any country and a serious risk to the health of its population. Planning and preparing now will help to lessen its impact and to avoid panic later. The Government will therefore continue to take every practical and proportional step to ensure that the UK prepares well for a pandemic and to mitigate its health and wider socio-economic effects.
This framework is part of that effort. It provides information and guidance to assist and support public and private organisations across all sectors in understanding the nature of the challenges and developing, testing and maintaining their plans. We recognise that some aspects may require more detailed guidance and that further government decisions are necessary on a small number of more complex issues. However, we believe that – with the range of accompanying guidance documents available from the various websites it signposts – the framework now provides the base assumptions, presumptions and other information that will allow all organisations to further develop and improve their response and business/service continuity plans.
The extent of the uncertainties associated with pandemic influenza is a major challenge for emergency planners and some elements of the UK response will need to be initially implemented with incomplete information and in the context of an evolving picture. The various assumptions, presumptions and response measures outlined in the framework will therefore need to be reviewed and, where necessary, changed as the pandemic develops, further information becomes available and impacts are better understood. The threat itself is also evolving, our knowledge and understanding are improving and new countermeasures are being developed. Response arrangements need to be progressive and we will constantly review and update the framework itself as additional information becomes available.
Although pandemic influenza remains one of the most severe natural challenges likely to affect the UK, by working together and preparing proportionately, we can all do a great deal to lessen its potential impact on our health and our social and economic wellbeing.