Version number: 4.0
First published: March 2015
Updated: May 2023

This material should be read in conjunction with the NHS England Emergency Preparedness Framework. All material forming the guidance is web-based and prepared to be used primarily in that format. The web-based versions of the guidance including underpinning materials have links to complementary material from other organisations and to examples of the practice of and approach to emergency planning in the NHS in England.

Introduction

For the attention of all NHS emergency preparedness, resilience and response (EPRR) personnel.

The following give an overview of the key EPRR guidance documents currently published and those in development or under review. These lists are not exhaustive.

For general queries, or to suggest amendments please get in touch with the NHS England (National) EPRR Team at england.eprr@nhs.net

Guidance and framework

• NHS England: NHS Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response Framework
• NHS England: NHS Core Standards for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response

Incident response

• NHS England: Incident Response Plan (National)
• NHS England: Incident Response Plan (National) – Annex A Protracted Incidents

Business continuity

• NHS England: NHS England Business Continuity Management Toolkit 
• International Organization for Standardization: ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS) – Requirements
• International Organization for Standardization: ISO 22313 Business Continuity Management Systems – Guidance
• GOV.UK: Cabinet Office: Business Continuity

Surge and escalation

• NHS England: Management of Surge and Escalation in Critical Care Services SOPs for Critical Care, Burns Services and ECMO

Evacuation and sheltering

• NHS England: Planning for the evacuation and sheltering of people in health sector settings

Exercising

• NHS England: Off the Shelf Exercises
• GOV.UK: Cabinet Office: Exercises and training

Pandemic and influenza

• NHS England: Operating Framework for Managing the Response to Pandemic Influenza
• Operating Framework for Managing the Response to Pandemic Diseases – New guidance under development
• NHS England: Roles and Responsibilities of CCGs in Pandemic Influenza*
• GOV.UK: Pandemic Flu: Managing Demand and Capacity in Health Care Organisations (Surge) (May 2009)
• GOV.UK: The UK Influenza Preparedness Strategy (2011)
• GOV.UK: Health and Social Care Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response (April 2012)
• GOV.UK: Pandemic Influenza: Guidance on the Management of Death Certification and Cremation Certification (March 2012)
• GOV.UK: Responding to Pandemic Influenza: The Ethical Framework for Policy and Planning (Nov 2007)
• GOV.UK: PHE Pandemic influenza response plan (2014)

* Subject to change to align with legislative and commissioning changes 

Mass casualty and major incidents

• NHS England: Concept of Operations for the Management of Mass Casualties
• NHS England: Concept of Operations for the Management of Mass Casualties: Burns Annex
• NHS England: Clinical Guidelines for Major Incidents
• NHS England: Major Incident Triage
• NARU: Clinical Guidance Medical Support Minimum Requirements for a Mass Casualty Incident (Oct 2014)

HAZMAT and CBRN

• NHS England: Chemical Incidents – Planning for the management of self-presenters in healthcare settings
• NHS England: Guidance for the initial management of self presenters from incidents involving hazardous materials
• NHS England: UK Reserve National Stock for Major Incidents – Countermeasures Access Guidance
• GOV.UK: CBRN Incidents: A Guide to Clinical Management and Health Protection
• GOV.UK: Radiation monitoring units: planning and operational guidance
• JESIP: Initial Operational Response to Incidents Suspected to Involve Hazardous Substances or CBRN Materials

Reference materials

• NHS England: Information on FFP3 Respirators
• NHS England: Information for Local Health Resilience Partnerships (LHRPs)
• NHS Blood Transfusion Committee: A Plan for NHS Blood and Transplant and Hospitals to address Red Cell Shortages
• NHS Blood Transfusion Committee: A Plan for NHS Blood and Transplant and Hospitals to address Platelet Shortages
• UKHSA: Adverse Weather and Health Plan for England (April 2023)
• UKHSA: Adverse Weather and Health Plan for England: Heat Advice (April 2023)
• PHE: Flooding Advice
• GOV.UK: National Risk Register (2020)
• GOV.UK: The Central Government’s Concept of Operations (April 2013)
• GOV.UK: Lexicon of UK Civil Protection Terminology (February 2013)
• GOV.UK: Emergency Response and Recovery (October 2013)
• GOV.UK: Emergency Preparedness: Guidance on Part 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, its associated Regulations and non-statutory arrangements (March 2012)
• GOV.UK: Expectations and Indicators of Good Practice Set for Category 1 and 2 Responders (October 2013)
• GOV.UK: Recovery Guidance Common Issues (March 2013)
• GOV.UK: Recovery Plan Guidance Template (November 2008)
• GOV.UK: The role of Local Resilience Forums (July 2013)
• GOV.UK: National Recovery Guidance – Humanitarian Aspects – Mass Fatalities
• GOV.UK: Enhanced SAGE Guidance: A strategic Framework for the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) (October 2012)
• GOV.UK: Provision of Scientific and Technical Advice in the Strategic Co-Ordination Centre (STAC) – Guidance to Local Responders (April 2007)
• GOV.UK: Strategic Framework and Policy Statement on Improving the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure to Disruption from Natural Hazards (March 2010)
• GOV.UK: Home Office: Guidance on Dealing with Fatalities in Emergencies (2004)
• GOV.UK: Mutual Aid Guidance

Updates since previous version