Chemicals, radiation and air quality in one remit: the UK Health Security Agency

Background

Most countries answer a disease outbreak through a public health agency, and that body is the UK Health Security Agency, or UKHSA. Its purpose is stated very simply: to protect people from health threats. The threats it is given are wider than infection alone, covering chemicals, radiation, the health effects of climate change and environmental hazards including air quality. The agency offers scientific and operational leadership and works with local, national and international partners to build what it calls the nation's health security capability. Because health protection is largely a devolved subject, its remit for most purposes runs to England only. It does hold some responsibilities beyond England on matters where policy has not been devolved. Health threats cross internal borders, so it works closely with the administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and with their own public health bodies. Its status is that of an executive agency, and the department that sponsors it is Health and Social Care.