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UK Health Security Agency

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The formation of the UKHSA essentially transferred Public Health England's health improvement functions to DHSC, while its health protection elements form part of the new government agency. Staff and systems were moved into the new organisation in 2021. PHE continued to have a shadow existence until
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first leaked news of the plans for the new agency on 16 August 2020. They claimed that Public Health England was to be "scrapped" and replaced by a single body combining it with NHS Test and Trace, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A leaked memo to staff written by the head of Public Health
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to become chief executive, and Ian Peters to be chair. Hancock also confirmed that Harries would take over from Harding as lead of England's test, trace and isolate programme. Harries assumed these roles following a hand-over period which lasted until Harding departed on 7 May 2021.
220:(PHE). Under the name of the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP), the organisation was established by Hancock on 18 August 2020 as a single leadership structure bringing together NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and all of PHE. Due to the ongoing 373:
welcomed the return to an organisation similar in remit to that agency; it criticised Public Health England's focus on health improvement topics such as obesity and binge drinking, arguing that these should be tackled by local NHS health teams. In August 2020
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The appointment of Lady Harding as interim executive chair of the new body was criticised by health experts as she did not have a background in health, and because of her political position.
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editorial described the creation of the agency as "extremely foolhardy". It characterised the National Institute for Health Protection as "seem remarkably similar to the
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On 2 September 2020, more than 70 health organisations wrote to the government to express concern about the future of health improvement work under these changes.
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The timing of the reorganisation, during the ongoing pandemic response, was criticised by various health experts and other bodies, including the editorial in the
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On 24 March 2021, Hancock announced that the organisation would be formally established on 1 April 2021 under the new name of the UK Health Security Agency, with
871: 719: 224:, the new organisation was not formally established until 1 April 2021, by which time it was called the UK Health Security Agency. It reports directly to the 770: 673: 549: 1408: 1081: 475: 425:
compared it to "reorganising a fire brigade as it tries to put out a blaze" and said the decision had been made without proper consultation or scrutiny.
1129: 1333: 1496: 852: 1609: 1527: 1568: 658: 1365: 1326: 951: 434: 225: 205: 1486: 262: 261:"where their health protection agencies have a huge, primary, focus on pandemic response". Over time UKHSA has built a relationship with 1390: 1357: 586: 976: 1604: 1110: 1312: 1253: 1599: 454: 346: 297: 247: 1375: 826: 1349: 185: 118: 250:
of the House of Commons, Harding said she held the interim leadership while a full application process was carried out.
1594: 1154: 1522: 1370: 1062: 896: 702:"Matt Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with Test and Trace boss Baroness Harding to lead replacement body" 289:
In February 2021, Harding said that the new body would not be "fully staffed and up and running" until October 2021.
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quoted allies of hers who, in response, said that she had quickly learned after being appointed chair of
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was the interim executive chair of the new organisation from 18 August 2020 to 7 May 2021. In 2022, the
1481: 1041: 384:"responsible for many critical failures over the course of this pandemic" that had to be scrapped. 1450: 1440: 1227: 1130:"Matt Hancock defends appointment of Dido Harding as National Institute for Health Protection head" 746:"UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), visited the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)" 408: 364: 323: 238:
found that her appointment to the position broke equalities legislation. She had been the chair of
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A new organisation, initially to be called the Centre for Health Protection, was proposed by
177: 55: 872:"Revealed: How ministers are planning to seize control of policy from Public Health England" 720:"UK Health Security Agency signs agreement with Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency" 159: 8: 1512: 674:"Coronavirus: Head of Test and Trace says rise in demand for COVID tests wasn't expected" 449: 342: 1318: 1279:"The Guardian view on scrapping Public Health England: not just wrong but highly risky" 1203: 1022: 550:"UK Health Security Agency launches with a relentless focus on keeping the nation safe" 328: 243: 209: 131: 1308:
September 2020 UK Government Policy Paper setting out the responsibilities of the NIHP
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in 2017 and that she had a record of "getting things done" while working in business.
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Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy
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Planning and executing the response to external health threats such as pandemics
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Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention
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Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention
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said that the NIHP would learn from South Korea and from Germany's
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September 2021. UKHSA became fully operational on 1 October 2021.
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COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and government structures
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Scally, Gabriel (2020). "The demise of Public Health England".
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programme, established in May 2020. During questioning by the
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Establishing the National Institute for Health Protection
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Executive agencies of the United Kingdom government
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Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
1039: 1518:Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration 269:and various visits between the two organisations. 1497:National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 1391:Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health 1586: 1528:Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards 367:abolished in 2013." An August 2020 editorial in 1569:National Institute for Health and Care Research 380:welcomed the change, characterising PHE as the 1104: 1102: 1366:Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 1334: 435:Office for Health Improvement and Disparities 333:Regulation of Coronavirus diagnostic devices 226:Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 206:Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 1487:Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority 242:since 2017, and at the time was head of the 1099: 309:The responsibilities of the UKHSA include: 263:Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency 1341: 1327: 1063:"Public Health England had to be scrapped" 671: 641:"Health Secretary axes public health body" 581: 579: 577: 158: 27: 1315:– House of Commons Library, February 2021 1189: 1171: 869: 1108: 1079: 672:Allegretti, Aubrey (17 September 2020). 1610:Government agencies established in 2021 1248: 1220: 889: 870:Manthorpe, Rowland (26 February 2021). 696: 694: 635: 633: 574: 506:"Transforming the public health system" 455:Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) 216:and the health protection functions of 1587: 1040:Christopher Snowdon (19 August 2020). 996: 992: 990: 610: 567: 565: 563: 1322: 1127: 946: 944: 473: 1350:Department of Health and Social Care 1080:Campbell, Denis (2 September 2020). 1060: 691: 630: 500: 498: 496: 186:Department of Health and Social Care 119:Department of Health and Social Care 16:Executive agency in UK health system 987: 827:"Selbie: 'I am sorry beyond words'" 560: 313:The health protection functions of 13: 1109:Campbell, Denis (18 August 2020). 1061:View, Telegraph (19 August 2020). 941: 763: 14: 1631: 1523:Independent Reconfiguration Panel 1376:Minister of State for Social Care 1301: 1221:Nickson, Sarah (19 August 2020). 1042:"Farewell, Public Health England" 493: 253:In August 2020, Health Secretary 1544:British Pharmacopoeia Commission 1128:Cruse, Ellena (20 August 2020). 777:. 15 August 2020. Archived from 743: 611:Hughes, Laura (17 August 2020). 248:Science and Technology Committee 1605:National public health agencies 1446:NHS Business Services Authority 1271: 1242: 1214: 1165: 1147: 1121: 1073: 1054: 1033: 969: 915: 863: 845: 819: 793: 737: 712: 665: 417:Royal Society for Public Health 1600:2021 establishments in England 651: 604: 542: 524: 467: 1: 1549:Commission on Human Medicines 474:Serle, Jack (24 March 2021). 460: 1371:Minister of State for Health 298:Deputy Chief Medical Officer 195: 7: 1574:NHS Counter Fraud Authority 929:. UK Health Security Agency 428: 352: 296:stepping down as England's 267:Memorandum of understanding 10: 1636: 1172:Iacobucci, Gareth (2020). 208:, in July 2020 to combine 1595:UK Health Security Agency 1561: 1536: 1505: 1482:Health Research Authority 1469: 1433: 1422: 1414:UK Health Security Agency 1399: 1356: 170:UK Health Security Agency 145: 124: 114: 94: 74: 64: 48: 40: 35: 26: 22:UK Health Security Agency 1451:NHS Blood and Transplant 1441:Health Education England 1228:Institute for Government 409:Institute for Government 365:Health Protection Agency 337:UKHSA collaborates with 324:Joint Biosecurity Centre 214:Joint Biosecurity Centre 137:Joint Biosecurity Centre 1477:Care Quality Commission 345:and Northern Ireland's 304: 286:before they were told. 1492:Human Tissue Authority 480:Health Service Journal 445:Public Health Scotland 339:Public Health Scotland 1401:UK executive agencies 440:Public Health England 315:Public Health England 259:Robert Koch Institute 218:Public Health England 178:Public Health England 56:Public Health England 789:– via Reuters. 347:Public Health Agency 75:Minister responsible 1513:NHS Pay Review Body 661:. 15 February 2022. 450:Public Health Wales 343:Public Health Wales 23: 1506:England advisories 1434:England executives 1252:(20 August 2020). 983:. 2 November 2021. 419:. An editorial in 329:NHS Test and Trace 244:NHS Test and Trace 210:NHS Test and Trace 132:NHS Test and Trace 102:Dame Jenny Harries 21: 1582: 1581: 1557: 1556: 1250:Timmins, Nicholas 1191:10.1136/bmj.m3257 1161:. 23 August 2020. 1011:10.1136/bmj.m3263 859:. 17 August 2020. 781:on 18 August 2020 708:. 18 August 2020. 647:. 18 August 2020. 222:COVID-19 pandemic 166: 165: 115:Parent department 107:Ian Peters, Chair 104:, Chief executive 95:Agency executives 1627: 1431: 1430: 1424:Non-departmental 1343: 1336: 1329: 1320: 1319: 1295: 1294: 1292: 1290: 1285:. 18 August 2020 1275: 1269: 1268: 1266: 1264: 1246: 1240: 1239: 1237: 1235: 1218: 1212: 1211: 1193: 1169: 1163: 1162: 1151: 1145: 1144: 1142: 1140: 1134:Evening Standard 1125: 1119: 1118: 1106: 1097: 1096: 1094: 1092: 1077: 1071: 1070: 1058: 1052: 1051: 1037: 1031: 1030: 994: 985: 984: 973: 967: 966: 964: 962: 948: 939: 938: 936: 934: 919: 913: 912: 910: 908: 893: 887: 886: 884: 882: 867: 861: 860: 849: 843: 842: 840: 838: 833:. 17 August 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Index


Public Health England
England
Andrew Gwynne
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention
Dame Jenny Harries
Department of Health and Social Care
NHS Test and Trace
Joint Biosecurity Centre
gov.uk/ukhsa
Edit this at Wikidata
Public Health England
executive agency
Department of Health and Social Care
Matt Hancock
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
NHS Test and Trace
Joint Biosecurity Centre
Public Health England
COVID-19 pandemic
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Baroness Harding
High Court
NHS Improvement
NHS Test and Trace
Science and Technology Committee
Matt Hancock
Robert Koch Institute
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
Memorandum of understanding

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