Emergency Planning & the Major Incident Plan (MIP)
Following the fuel crisis and the severe flooding in the autumn and winter of 2000 and the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease 2001, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a review of emergency planning arrangements This led to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The Act sets out a single framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom. This Act classified Primary care trusts, such as NHS Coventry as Category 1 responders. This requires them to do the following:
- Assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this information to inform contingency planning.
- Put in place emergency plans
- Put in place business continuity management arrangements
- Put in place arrangements to make information available to the public about civil protection matters and maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency.
- Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination
- Cooperate with other local responders to enhance coordination and efficiency.
In response to the act the NHS released the NHS Emergency planning guidance (2005) which set out specific requirements for NHS organisations including PCT’s.
NHS Coventry takes its responsibility as a category one responder very seriously and strives to comply with all aspects of the NHS Emergency Planning Guidance and the CCA 2004.
One of the requirements is for the
PCT to have a Major incident Plan (MIP). This plan details how NHS Coventry would respond to an emergency. By planning and looking ahead emergencies can be mitigated and the impact reduced. With this in mind the plan is reviewed annually and staff are trained in how to respond.
- PCT
Primary Care Trust. A PCT is responsible for commissioning the most appropriate services for the local community.