Chief Medical Officer Directorate
Dr Harry Burns MPH FRCS(Glas) FRCP(Ed) FFPH, Chief Medical Officer
T: 0131-244 2264 F: 0131-244 3477 E: cmo@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
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Directors of Public Health Copy to: Immunisation Co-ordinators
31 January 2008
Dear Colleague PRIORITIES FOR HEALTH PROTECTION IN SCOTLAND 2008-2010 The Health Protection Advisory Group is tasked with advising me and National Services Scotland about the strategic framework and priorities for health protection in Scotland. On my behalf the Group undertook an extensive review of current and predicted morbidity and mortality due to hazards such as micro-organisms and the preparedness of our services to prevent and respond to them. This exercise engaged representatives from a variety of agencies. I have endorsed the conclusions reached by the Group that the following should be the main priorities for health protection in Scotland in the period 2008 – 2010: • • • • • A potential pandemic of influenza; Healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance; Vaccine preventable diseases and the impact on them of current and planned immunisation programmes; Environmental exposures which have an adverse impact on health; Gastro-intestinal and zoonotic infections.
The group also considered what main issues needed to be addressed to improve the delivery of health protection services by both the NHS and local authorities. The following were highlighted: a) Effective information systems for managing incidents and outbreaks; b) Capacity and resilience of health protection services in responding to actual or potential significant threats to public health; c) Developing means to assure the quality of health protection services and facilitate their continual improvement; d) Continuing professional development especially with regard to strengthening evidence based good practice; e) Improving communications with the public on risks to health and securing a greater degree of their involvement in health protection services.
St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG www.scotland.gov.uk
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During the next year, the Health Protection Advisory Group will review progress against these priorities. For each priority, it will provide me with a view on capacity and resilience; how quality and information can be improved; the needs of professionals and how we can secure community and public involvement. As you know, earlier this year, we undertook an exercise to assure the quality of the National Health Service’s preparedness to respond to Pandemic Influenza. A report was presented to the Minister. The Health Protection Advisory Group has requested that Health Protection Scotland undertakes on its behalf two further quality assurance exercises, the first looking at the public health management of immunisation programmes and the second, health protection services’ capacity and resilience. The Health Protection Advisory Group will also look to report on these to me over the next year. Yours sincerely
DR HARRY BURNS
St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG www.scotland.gov.uk
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