Provision of scientific and technical advice to Strategic Co-ordinating
Groups during a major incident.
Along with Health colleagues, we are updating you on new
arrangements for the provision of scientific and technical advice
(including public health advice) to Strategic Co-ordinating Groups (or GOLD
command) during a major incident.
Following a cross-government review, led by the Cabinet Office, of
scientific and technical advice during major incidents, it has been agreed
that where there is likely to be a requirement for co-ordinated scientific
or technical advice within the multi-agency Strategic Co-ordination Centre
this should be provided through the establishment of a Science and
Technical Advice Cell (STAC). The STAC will work in a similar manner to the
current Health Advice Team (HAT) arrangements, however it will now include
(when relevant) wider scientific advice than the HAT previously did. It is
also envisaged that the STAC will provide advice during the recovery stage.
It has been agreed that from the 16th April 2007, the existing HAT
arrangements will be subsumed into new STAC arrangements.
As part of the agreement to subsume HAT into the new STAC arrangements, the
initial formation of the STAC will need to be actioned by local and
regional responders. Therefore, the principles as laid down in the HAT
guidance will still need to apply, and in the first few hours of an
incident, the STAC may need to be led by public health colleagues from
either the NHS or HPA. Whilst it will be for local responders to develop
plans for the formation of the STAC, it is envisaged that in the first
instance public health colleagues will lead this work.
The guidance recommends that a pool of suitable people be maintained at a
local level and that individuals have the correct skill set to chair the
STAC. We envision accredited training for chairs of the STAC to be rolled
out later this year.
It is anticipated that the initial focus of the STAC will be the provision
of public health advice to the GOLD commander. As the incident progresses,
the membership of the STAC may expand to include other appropriate
scientific and technical specialists in relation to the risk, who can
provide wider scientific advice to the GOLD commander.
