Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 February 2023 to Question 141370 on Protective Clothing, what the evidential basis is for the pathogen and disease-specific guidance produced by the UK Health Security Agency; and what the local risk assessment procedure is.

UK Health Security Agency considers a range of evidence when producing pathogen and disease-specific guidance. For example, reviewing the published literature and relevant guidance published by main stakeholders, such as the World Health Organization, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; consulting with medical and subject matter experts; and considering lessons learnt from previous outbreak investigations. Guidance for specific pathogens or infectious diseases is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/topic/health-protection/infectious-diseases

All National Health Service providers have responsibility for their own Infection, Prevention and Control guidance and risk assessments. All decisions are based on clinical evidence, local infection data and are signed off by senior clinicians.