Government tests influenza plan

The government has tested its response to a human flu pandemic, assessing its decision-making processes in an exercise this week.

Exercise Winter Willow was designed to manage the effects of a flu pandemic by playing out how decisions would be taken across the board at national, regional and local level.

This was the largest exercise of its kind, the Department of Health said, with the findings to be fed into an overall preparedness plan. The initiative served as an opportunity for ministers to evaluate the planning presumptions of the government and the NHS.

Commenting on the exercise, chief medical officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson said:
“When a ‘flu pandemic hits the country, the top priority for the government is to protect the public.

“The World Health Organization has said that the UK is at the forefront of preparations internationally, but it is always necessary to test our responses and improve them where required.”

He added that such exercises would become commonplace, as part of the department’s commitment to continual testing, refinement and development of plans.

“The NHS is ready to implement its well-rehearsed plan,” he added.

Along with considering how healthcare services would deal with a pandemic, the exercise assessed the preparedness of transport and food distribution systems.