Outdated Emergency Preparedness Guidance

Outdated, fragmented, and overly long emergency preparedness guidance, lacking emphasis on recovery and identification of vulnerable people.

93 items 7 sources 5 inquiries
Strongest theme matches

Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.

Indicative ranking
Inquiry recommendation
100match
P2-44 - Consolidate and update emergency preparedness guidance
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
The current guidance on preparing for emergencies is contained in several documents, all of which are unduly long and in some respects out of date. We recommend that the guidance be revised, reduced in length and consolidated in one document which lays greater emphasis on the need for those leading the response to consider the requirements for recovery,...
Matched on terms: emergency, guidance, preparednes
Committee recommendation
83match
#118 - Consider physical cash value in emergency preparedness and severe payment system outages
Treasury Committee
In discharging its responsibility for national security and resilience, HM Treasury must consider the value of physical cash in emergency preparedness. This may include recommending that cash is held by individuals in case of emergency, and considering what role cash distribution might play in a severe payment systems outage. (Recommendation)
Matched on terms: emergency, preparednes
Committee recommendation
65match
#5 - Forty-Sixth Report Government preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for government on risk
Public Accounts Committee
Government would have been better prepared for COVID-19 if it had applied learning from previous incidents and exercises. Government was unprepared for a pandemic with widespread asymptomatic transmission, but this was not unprecedented. The early spread of HIV, too, was partly caused by the fact that it was an asymptomatic condition that could take months before being diagnosed....
Matched on terms: emergency, preparednes
Inquiry recommendation
62match
MAI-99 - Review licensing guidance on event healthcare
Manchester Arena Inquiry
The Ministry of Housing Commuities and Local Government should review the guidance given to all licensing authorities on the decisions they make in relation to venues that hold events, and on what level of event healthcare services may be required at the events likely to be held at those venues. The guidance should indicate appropriate licence conditions to...
Matched on terms: guidance
Inquiry recommendation
62match
MAI-46 - Guidance on Major Incident plan review frequency
Manchester Arena Inquiry
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, the College of Policing and the Home Office should issue guidance for all police services on how often operational plans for responding to a Major Incident, including a terrorist incident, should be reviewed, how that review should be conducted, and what rank and experience the officers involved should...
Matched on terms: guidance
Committee recommendation
62match
#19 - UK preparedness for acute AMR risks is strong initially, but scaling up remains challenging.
Public Accounts Committee
We also asked DHSC about the UK’s preparedness for addressing the chronic risk of AMR and the possibility of it becoming an acute risk. DHSC told us that the UK has a strong base which would make the initial response positive, however it may be more challenging to scale up response efforts. UKHSA told us that AMR is...
Matched on terms: preparednes
PFD report
61match
Flora Shen
May 2020 · London; Inner North London
The DLR emergency response system is overly complex, requiring multiple steps for passengers to activate, and relies heavily on the public to notice and report track hazards, as CCTV cannot monitor all areas simultaneously.
Matched on terms: emergency
Committee recommendation
60match
#2 - First Report - The UK response to covid-19: use of scientific advice
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
The Cabinet Office and Government Office for Science should update SAGE guidance to set out the role that SAGE will play in advising the Government’s long-term management of emergency scenarios. (Paragraph 34) Activation and operation of SAGE
Matched on terms: emergency, guidance
PFD report
57match
Jessica Ashton-Pyatt
Aug 2013 · South Lincolnshire
The emergency response was uncoordinated, lacked consultant leadership, and critical equipment like the defibrillator was uncharged with missing pads, compromising immediate patient care.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
Martin Daffydd Barker
Sep 2013 · Manchester South
There appears to be no national guidance on how independent medical service providers, particularly those covering large public events, should operate, posing a risk to patient safety.
Matched on terms: guidance
PFD report
57match
George Hines
Oct 2015 · Avon
Defects in the pull-cord alarm system were unaddressed, residents were responsible for smoke detector maintenance, and smoke detectors were not linked to the emergency control room, delaying fire alerts.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
James Robertson
Feb 2016 · Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
Carers were not required to accurately log check times, delaying understanding of events. DNACPR status was not on shift handover notes, and the emergency resuscitation pack lacked essential equipment.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
Zane Gbangbola
Sep 2016 · Surrey
Inadequate and misleading safety guidance for internal combustion engine equipment used in confined spaces, coupled with the misleading use of the HSE logo, increases the risk of harm.
Matched on terms: guidance
PFD report
57match
Joshua Smith
Dec 2016 · North Northumberland
Emergency services exhibited delayed and uncoordinated response, difficulty in pinpointing location, and failed to follow joint command protocols (JESIP), contributing to critical delays.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
Mavis Reeves
Feb 2018 · Bedfordshire and Luton
The analogue Careline system caused significant delays for emergency services due to connection times, a single phone line, and key safe access issues, potentially unknown to residents.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
Jan Klempar
Aug 2020 · Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
Reduced lifeguard cover on Cornish beaches lacks a clear, publicly available plan detailing coverage levels or how shortfalls will be mitigated by other emergency services, increasing safety risks for bathers.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
Nicholas Winterton
Mar 2021 · City of London
The nationally recognized risk level for Mycobacterium Chimaera infection is inaccurate and outdated, leading to inadequate informed consent and a low threshold of suspicion among clinicians.
Matched on terms: outdated
PFD report
57match
Vinnie Dodds
Jul 2021 · City of Sunderland
There is no national guidance for managing large babies in pregnancy without diabetes, and counselling for shoulder dystocia lacks clarity on rare risks of foetal or maternal death.
Matched on terms: guidance
PFD report
57match
Levi Alleyne
Nov 2022 · Berkshire
Ambulance operators lacked clear procedures and accessible contact information for electricity distributors during electrical hazards, leading to significant delays in cutting power. This confusion risked both bystander and emergency service safety and delayed life-saving treatment.
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
57match
Christine McDonald
May 2024 · Cheshire
Failure to use emergency response codes left first responders unprepared for critical situations, compounded by training difficulties in simulating unexpected emergency scenarios.
Matched on terms: emergency
Committee recommendation
57match
#18 - AMR is a chronic risk with potential acute threats, hindering sustained government focus.
Public Accounts Committee
The government categorises AMR as one of 26 ‘chronic’ risks facing the UK, which means that it poses a long-term, continuous challenge to the UK, as opposed to an ‘acute’ risk which is an immediate threat which may require an emergency response.48 Chronic risks can manifest as acute risks themselves and can also make other acute risks more...
Matched on terms: emergency
IOPC learning recommendation
55match
National recommendations and recommendations made to the Metropolitan Police Service and West Yorkshire Police, July 2020
​The IOPC recommends that: The National Police Air Service (NPAS) develops guidance for emergency services call handlers on NPAS helicopter capabilities, making it clear that NPAS helicopters do not have a rescue capability. This guidance should also: On the night of the Grenfell fire, calls were made to the emergency services from people inside the tower asking to...
Matched on terms: emergency, guidance
Inquiry recommendation
53match
MAI-123 - GM Resilience Forum tri-service plan reviews
Manchester Arena Inquiry
The Greater Manchester Resilience Forum should oversee, at least every six months, a regular tri-service review of the Major Incident plans used by Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance Service. The purpose of that review should be to ensure that there is a common understanding by each emergency service of the...
Matched on terms: emergency
Committee recommendation
51match
#28 - National resilience standards for LRFs are voluntary, with many outdated community risk registers
Public Accounts Committee
Local organisations have a critical role in responding to emergencies and building resilience.50 Emergency responders in a local area convene in local resilience forums (LRFs) and the Cabinet Office published a set of national resilience standards for LRFs in 2020. These standards provide a consistent way for LRFs and their constituent local responder organisations to self-assess their capabilities...
Matched on terms: emergency, outdated
Inquiry recommendation
51match
COVID-M2.10 - Pandemic Decision-Making Framework
COVID-19 Inquiry
The UK government and devolved administrations should set out in future pandemic preparedness strategies how decision-making will work in a future pandemic. This should include provision for COBR to be used as the initial response structure and set out how the UK government and devolved administrations will transition from managing a pandemic through COBR to managing it through...
Matched on terms: emergency, preparednes
PFD report
49match
Saeid Hedayat
Oct 2019 · West Sussex
West Sussex County Council's drain clearance risk assessment was inadequate, failing to account for specific blockages and lacking regular review or warning signs for known flood risks, despite available data and increased storm severity.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Gillian Davey
May 2020 · Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
The complete absence of professional lifeguard cover on Cornish beaches poses a significant risk of further loss of life. A lack of transparent planning for resuming this essential service leaves the public vulnerable.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Michael Pender
May 2020 · Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
The complete absence of professional lifeguard cover on Cornish beaches poses a significant risk of further loss of life. A lack of transparent planning for resuming this essential service leaves the public vulnerable.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Andrew Westlake
Dec 2020 · County Durham and Darlington
Airline staff lacked policy and training for identifying and safeguarding mentally unwell, vulnerable passengers, leading to disembarkation without support in a foreign country.
Matched on classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
48match
HIDD-79 - Department of Health to review Circular 71, clarifying Major Incident declaration terms
Hidden Inquiry
The Department of Health shall review DHSS Circular 71 in consultation with emergency and medical services to reflect all lessons learned but in particular in relation to procedures for declaring a Major Incident. The Department of Health shall specifically require that the terms used to warn hospitals of a possible Major Incident, and subsequently to declare an actual...
Matched on terms: emergency
PFD report
45match
Janet Richardson
Oct 2013 · Cumbria (North & West)
The deceased fell into the sea during a rescue medical evacuation.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Lucy Moffatt
Jun 2014 · South Yorkshire (West)
Window restraints were found to be misleadingly insecure, easily defeated, and establishments lacked proper key restriction, further compounded by CQC inspectors' unawareness of a critical Department of Health alert.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Davina Tavener
Jul 2015 · Manchester (West)
Current aviation regulations fail to mandate critical medical equipment like defibrillators and airway adjuncts on aircraft, significantly reducing a passenger's chance of survival during in-flight cardiac arrest despite such equipment being available and simple to operate.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Nathan Charman
Jul 2016 · County Durham and Darlington
The winter maintenance policy and decision-making process inadequately addressed extreme or "microclimatic" road conditions, and the incident failed to prompt a formal review or learning.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
John Wilson
Jul 2017 · Manchester (South)
The product recall process was inadequate, relying on unrecorded standard mail that failed to inform the deceased, and lacked further robust efforts like registered post or follow-up visits, despite known increasing fire risk with product age.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Ellie Knowles
Jul 2018 · Newcastle Upon Tyne
A venue maintains a license for high-risk events but lacks a robust internal protocol requiring consultation with police and council licensing officers before planning similar future events.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Christopher McGuffie
Dec 2018 · County Durham and Darlington
Railway stations lack immediate and effective alert systems for detecting and reporting persons on the line.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Matthew Lewis
Feb 2019 · South Wales Central
Confusing and inconsistent call handler instructions to police officers during a hanging incident created ambiguity between scene preservation and life preservation, risking unsuccessful rescue attempts.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Thomas Reilly
Feb 2020 · Brighton and Hove
The lack of a formal, structured intervention system at suicide hotspots, relying on ad-hoc approaches, raises concerns about consistent prevention of self-harm.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Anthony Williamson
Aug 2020 · Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
Concerns persist regarding reduced coastguard and lifeguard cover on the Cornish coastline, with no transparent, published plan on mitigation strategies or current service levels available to the public.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Zainab Hashim and Tafaoul Abdulkarim
Jun 2021 · Stoke-on-Trent & North Staffordshire
Residents in council-owned blocks of flats were unaware of the "Stay Put" fire policy, and communication methods have not changed despite this proven lack of awareness, risking future deaths.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Rita Britten
West Yorkshire Western
Lack of clear national guidelines for effectively managing choking emergencies in overweight/obese individuals, where conventional abdominal thrusts are compromised, creates a significant safety risk.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Samsam Ateye
Sep 2024 · West London
The existing policy for COVID-19 testing prior to cardiac surgery requires review to ensure patient safety and prevent future deaths.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Champagauri and Dipak Bhatt
Dec 2024 · North London
Fires are caused by moisture ingress into condensate pumps. There's inadequate data sharing and analysis for white goods fires, poor manufacturing standards for components, and inconsistent risk assessment methodology.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Luke Albiston O’Donnell
Dec 2024 · Liverpool and Wirral
The public is largely unaware of the life-threatening fire risks posed by lithium-ion batteries from electronic devices stored in homes. There is a critical lack of communication and media coverage on this danger.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Jean Langan
Dec 2024 · Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
The absence of a real-time database for hospital helicopter landing sites and a lack of readily available manager contact details present significant risks to safe helicopter operations.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
45match
Stuart Gilchrist
Sep 2025 · East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull
Restaurants and food establishments are largely unaware of useful anti-choking devices, and there is no clear responsibility for advising them to stock such potentially life-saving equipment.
Matched on classifier match
PPO recommendation
44match
The Governor
The Governor should ensure that all prison staff are made aware of and understand PSI 03/2013 on medical emergency codes so that staff accurately and appropriately communicate the nature of a prisoner’s medical condition.
Matched on terms: emergency
PPO recommendation
44match
The Director
The Director should ensure that all staff understand their responsibilities in a medical emergency, including that they radio the appropriate medical emergency code without delay.
Matched on terms: emergency
Committee recommendation
43match
#1 - First Report - The UK response to covid-19: use of scientific advice
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
The coronavirus pandemic marks the most significant test of the UK’s emergency advisory and decision-making structures in living memory. As such, it is important that lessons are drawn throughout and applied so that the Government and future Governments may be better placed to respond to future crises. This has been the purpose of our inquiry—to capture those early...
Matched on terms: emergency