A local council is preparing themselves in the event another pandemic hits the country.
Documents being presented to Middlesbrough’s full council meeting explain that works are underway to increase the preparedness of the council if a pandemic was to strike, as occurred in March 2020 when coronavirus led to a lockdown nationwide.
The report of Labour Cllr Jan Ryles, executive member for public health, explained that the pandemic preparedness plan is being updated in line with national expectations, ahead of a national simulation in autumn, which is designed to test both local and regional responses to future pandemics. A workshop is due to be held on 1 August with council partners to run tests.
Government policy papers updated on 8 July outline that the tier one Pegasus exercise, which examines pandemic preparedness and response, will take place between September and November this year, with participation set to be at both a national and local level.
The government’s policy paper added: “The department of health and social care (DHSC) is working with health and care partners and other departments with support from the Cabinet Office to develop the pandemic preparedness strategy. The aim is to publish this in autumn 2025, after incorporating interim findings of the Pegasus tier one exercise taking place.”
Full comments from the Middlesbrough executive member’s report said: “Work is underway to update our Pandemic Preparedness Plan in line with national expectations ahead of Exercise Pegasus, a multi-agency national simulation exercise designed to test local and regional responses to future pandemics.
“To support this, we will be holding a local workshop on 1 August with partners to test our draft plan, identify gaps, and make necessary amendments prior to the formal exercise later in the year. The session will bring together health, emergency planning, social care and community partners to strengthen our shared readiness.”
A government corporate report said: “Validation through exercising is a core part of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)’s approach to embedding learning. UKHSA is responsible for co-developing, delivering and evaluating Exercise Pegasus with DHSC and other Government departments.
“As a major tier one exercise, Pegasus presents an important opportunity to validate and assure learning from previous incidents and the Covid pandemic. UKHSA will be a major participant, and the exercise provides an opportunity to validate our plans which have incorporated lessons learned from previous incidents and exercises.”
