Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that emergency (a) preparedness and (b) response planning includes consideration of rehabilitation needs in line with World Health Organization Resolution 76.6 on Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems, adopted in May 2023.

Rehabilitation is an important consideration within the recovery phase of our emergency response plans and wider preparedness, in line with World Health Organization Resolution 76.6 on Strengthening Rehabilitation in Health Systems. The United Kingdom participated in the negotiation of the resolution which was adopted by the UK and Member States at the World Health Assembly in May 2023.

We regularly review our plans and procedures to ensure they continue to reflect best practice and lessons from real events, exercises and international bodies and comparators. The Department plans for a range of risks and scenarios from the onset of an incident through to the recovery phase. Specifically, recovery is a core element of NHS England’s emergency preparedness, resilience and response framework. It includes restoring services and addressing the longer-term health and care needs of people and communities who have been affected.