AQW 35582/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 08/09/2014
Answered On Date: 18/09/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the capacity of health services in East Londonderry to deal with the potential health and safety risks of hosting major events.

Answer:

In accordance with good practice guidance, the responsibility to conduct a risk assessment of the health and safety elements arising from a major event, rest with the event organiser. In doing so, the event organiser should ensure that appropriate medical, ambulance and first aid provision is put in place and that any arrangements minimise the impact of the event on local Health and Social Care (HSC) and emergency services.

The event’s organiser is also responsible for appointing a medical provider who should produce a medical plan which outlines roles and responsibilities and confirms liaison arrangements with the relevant HSC Trust(s). From an emergency planning perspective, the health service should be made aware of a major event from an early stage in order that it can plan appropriately.

The Northern HSC Trust’s Major Incident Plan and Corporate Business Continuity Plan provide extensive procedures to guide the Trust should a response be required to an emergency arising from a major event. As part of emergency preparedness, representatives from the Northern HSC Trust work closely with councils, event organisers and ‘blue-light’ responders to ensure it is represented in the event multi-agency planning groups and as a member of the ‘Multi-Agency Control Room’ throughout the event, to ensure effective communication should an incident require Trust input. Appropriate Trust services are informed of planned events and co-ordination of Trust preparedness to respond to potential incidents and there is participation in the multi-agency debrief to share any learning points arising from the event.