H1N1 Pandemic

Thursday 1st July 2010 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

I have today placed a copy of the report of the independently chaired review of the United Kingdom response to the 2009 H1N1 (“swine flu”) pandemic in the Library of the House. Copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office. The review was jointly commissioned, and the chair appointed, by all four of the UK Health Ministers in March 2010. Dame Deirdre Hine chaired the review.

The four UK Health Ministers set up this independent review with a remit to review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the UK strategy for responding domestically to the swine flu pandemic, and make recommendations for any future influenza pandemic. The review was not asked to comment on operational matters.

I would like to thank Dame Deirdre Hine and her team for their work and I welcome her report and recommendations. I will take these into account, alongside financial and operation considerations, and other research evidence, when reviewing our future pandemic plans in the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic.

I would like to express the Government’s thanks to everyone who has assisted and advised on the response to the swine flu pandemic.