Health protection

Protection against existing and emerging threats

On 10th January 2002, the Chief Medical Officer's report 'Getting ahead of the Curve: A Strategy for combating infectious disease' was published. The report's main recommendation was to combine the existing functions of the following national bodies to form the Health Protection Agency (HPA):

The report also recommended bringing together into one agency key professions working in health protection. These include Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Health Emergency Planning Advisors and Communicable Disease/Infection Control Nurses.

The new agency will provide a dedicated field service and an integrated approach to protecting the public against infectious diseases and chemical and radiological hazards.

Initially it is proposed to establish the Health Protection Agency as a special authority, which will take on functions under the NHS Act from 1st April 2003.

Health protection in Bolton PCT

Health protection in Bolton encompasses 3 main areas;

Infection Control

The Public Health Department has responsibility for infection control issues for a variety of settings. These include nursing and residential homes, nurseries and GP and dental practices. We provide a series of infection control manuals pertinent to these settings.

Communicable Disease Control

The Public Health Department has some responsibility for protecting the health of the people of Bolton. This is achieved through a variety of mechanisms, including vaccination and immunisation, surveillance and the investigation of reports of disease, contact tracing and development and delivery of policies to reflect the needs of the Bolton population.

Emergency Planning

Every Primary Care Trust has to develop a major incident plan which outlines the role and responsibilities of the PCT in the event of a major incident. This could include anything from a rail crash to an outbreak of legionella. The major incident plan was developed in conjunction with neighbouring PCTs and the Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit.

Greater Manchester Community Risk Register click here

Bolton PCT carries out these functions in conjunction with our partner organisations such as Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council and the Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit.

Emerging threats

Some of these include:

Bioterrorism
TB
Antimicrobial resistance
Healthcare associated infections
CJD/BSE
HIV/AIDS
Hepatitis

The team comprises:

Graham Munslow – Health Protection Specialist

Graham’s key roles are centred on communicable disease control and surveillance, emergency planning and infection control.

Graham is currently involved in a programme of work to improve the immunisation and vaccination rates in the ethnic minority and travelling communities. He is also involved in a joint review of the occupational health contract. Graham has also been producing the Business Continuity plan which will form an integral part of the PCT Major Incident plan.

Other workstreams include writing the PCT’s Hepatitis C Strategy, setting up a PCT travel clinic, advice regarding the new childhood immunisation schedule, and leading the PCT’s response to the threat of pandemic flu.

More information

More information on Health Protection issues is available at: