Disease outbreak surveillance
Insufficiently comprehensive or risk-based surveillance activities by APHA, leading to reduced capacity to detect new disease threats.
18 items
1 source
3 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Disease outbreak surveillance has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
18 inquiry recs
This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.
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Inquiry Recommendations (18)
COVID-M3.8 — Recording Healthcare Worker Deaths
Recommendation: The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive should work with their respective public health agencies and healthcare employers to develop nation-specific mechanisms to collect, analyse and publish data systematically on the deaths of healthcare workers in …
Words of: UK government (Department of Health and Social Care), UK government response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 report (CP 1664), 14 September 2026
Gov response: The government agrees that, in the event of a future pandemic, data on healthcare worker deaths plays a vital role in supporting and protecting the workforce as well as improving epidemic surveillance. The government will …
Accepted
COVID-M3.1 — IPC Structures and Transmission Risk
Recommendation: The UK government must ensure that there is a body (equivalent to the UK Infection Prevention and Control Cell) in place ready to be convened at the outset of any future pandemic, to consider and draft infection prevention and control …
Words of: UK government (Department of Health and Social Care), UK government response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 report (CP 1664), 14 September 2026
Gov response: The government recognises the importance of clear, accountable structures to support IPC decision making during a pandemic and agrees with the Inquiry’s recommendation.
Accepted
COVID-M3.4 — Data Systems for High-Risk Individuals
Recommendation: The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive must ensure that health data and digital systems have the capability to identify individuals at high risk of morbidity or mortality from a pandemic disease quickly and accurately in …
Words of: UK government (Department of Health and Social Care), UK government response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 3 report (CP 1664), 14 September 2026
Gov response: The government agrees with the Inquiry that data systems need to be improved to identify individuals at high risk during a pandemic. The government’s 10 Year Health Plan and existing data policy work provide a …
Accepted
R71 — National CDI death monitoring
Recommendation: Scottish Government should identify a national agency to undertake routine national monitoring of deaths related to CDI.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R53 — Surveillance systems fit for purpose
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that surveillance systems are fit for purpose, are simple to use and monitor, and provide information on potential outbreaks in real time.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R16 — CDI outbreak reporting
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that the nurse in charge of each ward reports suspected outbreaks of CDI (as defined in local guidance) to the Infection Control Team.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R4 — Local HAI Task Forces
Recommendation: Scottish Government should develop local Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Task Forces within each Health Board area.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
F107 — Sharing concerns
Recommendation: If the Health Protection Agency or its successor, or the relevant local director of public health or equivalent official, becomes concerned that a provider's management of healthcare associated infections is or may be inadequate to provide sufficient protection of patients …
Speaker not recorded. Source: Department of Health, Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, volume 2 (Cm 8777-II), November 2013
Gov response: Accepted. Public Health England is reviewing its governance framework which underpins its responsibilities (in partnership with local, regional and national partners) for sharing and escalating concerns. As part of this work and as new structures …
Accepted
In progress
F106 — Health Protection Agency Coordination and publication of providers' information on healthcare associated infections
Recommendation: The Health Protection Agency and its successor, should coordinate the collection, analysis and publication of information on each provider's performance in relation to healthcare associated infections, working with the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
Speaker not recorded. Source: Department of Health, Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, volume 2 (Cm 8777-II), November 2013
Gov response: Accepted. Public Health England, which since April 2013 has taken on the functions of the Health Protection Agency, is working together with the Health and Social Care Information Centre to coordinate the collection, analysis and …
Accepted
In progress
COVID-M6.6 — Data on Deaths of Social Care Workers
Recommendation: The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive should develop mechanisms to collect, analyse and publish data systematically about the deaths of adult social care workers during a pandemic. The data must be comparable across the four …
Gov response: No formal government response published. The Northern Ireland Executive had not published a response to the Module 6 report of 20 October 2026 when the Executive Office's publications list was checked on 20 October 2026.
No response yet
R54 — Surveillance system training
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that the users of surveillance systems are properly trained in their use and fully aware of how to use and respond to the data available.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R40 — Prudent antibiotic prescribing
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that the key principles of prudent antibiotic prescribing are adhered to and that implementation of policy is rigorously monitored by management.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R35 — Antibiotic prescribing monitoring
Recommendation: Scottish Government should monitor the implementation of policies and/or guidance on antibiotic prescribing issued in connection with healthcare associated infection and seek assurance within specified time limits that implementation has taken place.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R34 — Antimicrobial guidance implementation
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that changes in policy and/or guidance on antimicrobial practice issued by or on behalf of Scottish Government are implemented without delay.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R3 — IPC policy review
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that infection prevention and control policies are reviewed promptly in response to any new policies or guidance issued by or on behalf of the Scottish Government, and in any event at specific review dates no more …
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
R2 — HAI implementation strategy
Recommendation: Scottish Government should ensure that policies and guidance on healthcare associated infection are accompanied by an implementation strategy and that implementation is monitored.
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted
F108 — Support for other agencies
Recommendation: Public Health England should review the support and training that health protection staff can offer to local authorities and other agencies in relation to local oversight of healthcare providers' infection control arrangements.
Speaker not recorded. Source: Department of Health, Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, volume 2 (Cm 8777-II), November 2013
Gov response: Accepted. Public Health England recognises the importance of supporting local infection control and prevention arrangements, and has undertaken a review. Although the offer of support and training would be a significant undertaking, Public Health England …
Accepted
In progress
R55 — CDI reporting to CEO and Board
Recommendation: Health Boards should ensure that numbers and rates of CDI are reported through each level of the organisation up to the level of the Chief Executive and the Board. Reporting should include positive reporting in addition to any exception reporting. …
Words of: Scottish Government, The Scottish Government's Response to the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry Report, section 1.3, 18 June 2015
Gov response: The Scottish Government accepts its responsibility for the failings identified in the report and we apologise unreservedly for the suffering and loss caused. We accept in full all of the report's recommendations.
Accepted