Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear

Background

Any event has the potential to require:

• the immediate redistribution of health and social care services
• the need to provide urgent assistance to victims and first responders from emergency services at the scene
• clear and regular health and social care advice to the wider general public

In dealing with such events, DoH and wider health and social care organisations have a number of specific CBRN preparedness and response arrangements in place. These include:

• the stockpiling of pharmaceutical medical and surgical equipment and related consumables
• participation in the development, exercising and evaluation of multi-agency plans
• the establishment of mutual aid and communication agreements

Links

• The UK's strategy for countering CBRN terrorism (2010)
• 'Responding to Emergencies' - the UK central government concept of operations
• Lexicon of UK civil protection terminology