Government launches new Pandemic Preparedness Strategy
The UK Government has launched a new Pandemic Preparedness Strategy backed with £1bn funding to support the UK to manage PPE, equipment and testing stockpiles and other measures that enable a rapid response. The strategy considers pandemics caused by a range of pathogens and different forms of transmission (not only covering respiratory viruses).
The Strategy sets out an extensive programme of actions the Government will take between now and 2030. Some of the key actions specifically related to social care include:
During 2026/27
- a plan to ensure safe and timely hospital discharge in a pandemic
2027-2028:
- an adult social care pandemic action plan, including how to improve the resilience and preparedness of the workforce (the Homecare Association has already begun working with DHSC on this action plan, alongside other organisations representing providers, people using care services, unpaid carers, local authorities and more)
- look at mechanisms to provide targeted funding to social care in a pandemic
- improved infection prevention and control guidance and training for adult social care
- explore how DHSC and the NHS can work together with local systems to improve fit testing rates and capability (e.g. for FFP3 masks)
2028-2030:
- enhance communication and data flows between the adult social care, public health and NHS systems, using new digital platforms and tools
- technology for digitally enabled care
The plan recognises that surging NHS capacity could mean providing digital care and care-at-home and not just increasing hospital capacity. Adult Social Care could have a key role in this. We look forward to working further with the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency on this Strategy as plans develop.
