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The NHS Resilience project aims to ensure the
sustainability of the service in all circumstances
to the benefit of patients and communities.
With increased risks and a changing NHS, there is a need to ensure that NHS structures and organisations are resilient enough to both embrace change and respond to new threats. BCM is an essential component
Furthermore, the CCA 2004 and national risk and capability assessments now place clear obligations on NHS organisations to cope with disruptive challenges. Consequently, there needs to be a robust system in place in all organisations to plan, test and train for response against a range of disruptive challenges. In the recent times, a number of incidents such as bombings, extensive flooding and consequent loss of power, water and telephony have drawn attention to the importance of resilience planning.
Major disruptions are suffered by one in five
of all businesses within a five year period.
Source: The Home Office
Emergency preparedness is identified as one of the five priority areas for NHS organisations
The Operating Framework states in sections 2.58 and 2.59:
It is essential that all organisations are well prepared to respond effectively to major emergency incidents, so that they can mitigate the risks to public and patients, and maintain a functioning health service.
In particular, PCTs will want to work with NHS organisations and other contracted healthcare providers, to ensure that plans are in place locally, so that they are in a position to respond effectively to any emergency, including a pandemic flu outbreak or dangerous incident such as a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or terrorist attack. All NHS organisations must have robust plans in place to respond to flu pandemic by December 2008.
The central role of resilience and BCM to all NHS
organisations is therefore made explicit.
If you would like to learn more about Business Continuity Planning, please click here.
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