UK Health Security Agency

A new organisation, initially to be called the Centre for Health Protection, was proposed by Matt Hancock, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in July 2020 to combine NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and the health protection functions of Public Health England.[2022] EWHC 298 (Admin) Under the name of the National Institute for Health Protection, the organisation was established by Hancock on 18 August 2020 as a single leadership structure bringing together NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and all of Public Health England. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the new organisation was not formally established until 1 April 2021, by which time it was called the UK Health Security Agency. It reports directly to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.{{Cite web |title=Government creates new National Institute for Health Protection |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-creates-new-national-institute-for-health-protection |access-date=18 August 2020 |website=GOV.UK}}

Baroness Harding was the interim executive chair of the new organisation from 18 August 2020 to 7 May 2021.{{cite news |title=Dido Harding to lead new pandemic agency for England |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a33cf8a5-1017-4ecd-8922-fb922358c0b5 |accessdate=17 August 2020 |work=Financial Times |last=Hughes |first=Laura |date=17 August 2020}} In 2022, the High Court found that her appointment to the position broke equalities legislation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/baroness-dido-harding-covid-19-response-test-trace-high-court-b982606.html|title = Dido Harding's appointment by Matt Hancock in Covid response 'broke equalities law'|date = 15 February 2022}} She had been the chair of NHS Improvement since 2017, and at the time was head of the NHS Test and Trace programme, established in May 2020. During questioning by the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons, Harding said she held the interim leadership while a full application process was carried out.{{Cite web|last=Allegretti|first=Aubrey|date=17 September 2020|title=Coronavirus: Head of Test and Trace says rise in demand for COVID tests wasn't expected|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-head-of-test-and-trace-says-rise-in-demand-for-covid-tests-wasnt-expected-12074297|access-date=19 September 2020|website=Sky News|language=en}}

In August 2020, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the NIHP would learn from South Korea and from Germany's Robert Koch Institute "where their health protection agencies have a huge, primary, focus on pandemic response".{{Cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/matt-hancock-confirms-public-health-england-to-be-axed-with-test-and-trace-boss-baroness-harding-to-lead-replacement-body |title=Matt Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with Test and Trace boss Baroness Harding to lead replacement body |date=18 August 2020 |website=Politics Home}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-53813480 |title=Health Secretary axes public health body |date=18 August 2020 |work=BBC News}} Over time, UKHSA has built a relationship with Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, signing a memorandum of understanding and promoting visits between the two organisations.{{Cite web |title=UK Health Security Agency signs agreement with Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-health-security-agency-signs-agreement-with-korea-disease-control-and-prevention-agency |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=KDCA |date=4 May 2022 |title=UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), visited the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) |url=https://www.kdca.go.kr/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=KDCA |language=en}}

The Telegraph first reported news of the plans for the new agency on 16 August 2020, writing that Public Health England was to be "scrapped" and replaced by a single body combining it with NHS Test and Trace, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|date=15 August 2020|title=Public Health England to be scrapped and replaced by new body|work=The Telegraph|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-phe-idUKKCN25B0ZD|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818193847/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-phe-idUKKCN25B0ZD|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2020|access-date=15 August 2020|via=Reuters}} A leaked memo to staff written by the head of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie, said that the aim of the new body was to boost expertise with "much needed new investment".{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Public Health England 'to be replaced' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53799854 |accessdate=17 August 2020 |work=BBC News |date=17 August 2020}}{{cite news |title=Selbie: 'I am sorry beyond words' |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-regulation/selbie-i-am-sorry-beyond-words/7028256.article |accessdate=18 August 2020 |work=HSJ |date=17 August 2020}} Selbie apologised to staff that the news of the organisation's demise was briefed to The Telegraph before they were told.{{Cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-08-17/boss-sorry-beyond-words-after-details-on-public-health-englands-future-leaked |title=Boss 'sorry beyond words' after details on Public Health England's future leaked |date=17 August 2020 |work=ITV News}}

In February 2021, Harding said that the new body would not be "fully staffed and up and running" until October 2021.{{Cite web|last=Manthorpe|first=Rowland|date=26 February 2021|title=Revealed: How ministers are planning to seize control of policy from Public Health England|url=https://news.sky.com/story/revealed-how-ministers-are-planning-to-seize-control-of-policy-from-public-health-england-12229696|access-date=27 February 2021|website=Sky News|language=en}} The Institute for Government said that the UKHSA faced financial uncertainty and big cuts in its first year, frustrating recruitment, even at board level. Staff turnover and a requirement to use a new accounting system contributed to a qualified audit opinion from the National Audit Office. It drew the conclusion that, when a public body is set up, the right premises, staff, budgets and systems are needed at the outset, when swift and successful delivery can be essential to earning public trust – even if resources will need to be scaled back later.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-11/How-to-set-up-a-public-body_0.pdf|title=How to set up a public body |website=Institute for Government |date=November 2024 |access-date=21 November 2024 }}{{Cite web |first=Rowena |last=Mason |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/21/labours-new-public-bodies-are-likely-to-come-at-a-high-cost-thinktank-finds|title=Labour's new public bodies are likely to come at a high cost |website=The Guardian |date=21 November 2024 }}

On 24 March 2021, Hancock announced that the organisation would be formally established on 1 April 2021 under the new name of the UK Health Security Agency, with Jenny Harries stepping down as England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer to become chief executive, and Ian Peters to be chair. Hancock also confirmed that Harries would take over from Harding as lead of England's test, trace and isolate programme.{{cite news|date=24 March 2021|title=Britain to launch new health security agency to battle pandemics|newspaper=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-agency-idUSKBN2BG1H2|accessdate=24 March 2021}} Harries assumed these roles following a hand-over period which lasted until Harding departed on 7 May 2021.

In January 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that Harries would be stepping down as chief executive; at the same time Isabel Oliver, chief scientific officer, transferred to the role of Chief Medical Officer for Wales.{{Cite web |date=23 January 2025 |title=Leadership changes at UKHSA |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/leadership-changes-at-ukhsa |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} The announcement followed wide-scale changes in the leadership of the department (including the permanent secretary and non-executive directors),{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Henry |date=14 August 2024 |title=Labour launches clearout of DHSC non-execs |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/leadership/exclusive-labour-launches-clearout-of-dhsc-non-execs/7037661.article |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Health Service Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Oliver |date=2024-08-13 |title=Labour kicks out non-execs given Whitehall jobs by the Tories |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/labour-kicks-out-non-execs-given-whitehall-jobs-by-the-tories-88w3g2t98 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=The Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-04-22 |title=DHSC names new perm sec |url=https://www.civilserviceworld.com/professions/article/samantha-jones-dhsc-permanent-secretary-appointment |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Civil Service World |language=en}} NHS England,{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard stepping down |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewk5xlxwkro |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} and the Care Quality Commission{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Alison |date=26 February 2025 |title=Ex-chief inspector set to chair CQC |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/leadership/ex-chief-inspector-set-to-chair-cqc/7038736.article |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Health Service Journal |language=en}} under the Starmer administration.

The responsibilities of the UKHSA include:{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency/about |access-date=2 April 2021 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=UK Health Security Agency |language=en}}

• All health protection functions within England
• Some health protection functions within the devolved nations which have been reserved at the UK level (mostly those requiring specialist capability, such as on radiation hazards){{Cite web |date=2025-01-06 |title=UKHSA science strategy 2023 to 2033: securing health and prosperity |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukhsa-science-strategy-2023-to-2033-securing-health-and-prosperity |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
• Providing advice and expertise to the Secretary of State in the execution of their statutory duty to protect the nation's health
• Planning and executing the response to external health threats, such as pandemics
• Driving innovation within health protection and life sciences

UKHSA collaborates with Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2021 |title=Transforming the public health system |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-the-public-health-system |access-date=2 April 2021 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} It also works with local authorities, NHS organisations, academic institutions, and industry to ensure effective policy response and implementation.

A 2020 BMJ editorial described the creation of the agency as "extremely foolhardy". It characterised the National Institute for Health Protection as "seem[ing] remarkably similar to the Health Protection Agency abolished in 2013."{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1136/bmj.m3263|title = The demise of Public Health England|year = 2020|last1 = Scally|first1 = Gabriel|journal = BMJ|volume = 370|pages = m3263|pmid = 32816779|s2cid = 221177869}} An August 2020 editorial in The Spectator welcomed the return to an organisation similar in remit to that agency; it criticised Public Health England's focus on health improvement topics such as obesity and binge drinking, arguing that these should be tackled by local NHS health teams.{{Cite web |title=Farewell, Public Health England|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/farewell-public-health-england |author=Christopher Snowdon|date=19 August 2020|work=The Spectator}} In August 2020 The Telegraph welcomed the change, characterising PHE as the quango "responsible for many critical failures over the course of this [COVID-19] pandemic" that had to be scrapped.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/08/19/public-health-england-had-scrapped/ |title=Public Health England had to be scrapped |date=19 August 2020 |website=The Telegraph|last1=View |first1=Telegraph }}

On 2 September 2020, more than 70 health organisations wrote to the government to express concern about the future of health improvement work under these changes.{{Cite web|last=Campbell|first=Denis|date=2 September 2020|title=Health leaders warn Boris Johnson over axing of Public Health England|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/02/health-leaders-warn-boris-johnson-over-axing-of-public-health-england|access-date=27 February 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

The appointment of Lady Harding as interim executive chair of the new body was criticised by health experts as she did not have a background in health, and because of her political position.{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Denis |date=18 August 2020 |title=Dido Harding: confident, loyal – but with precious little relevant experience |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/aug/18/dido-harding-profile-institute-health-protection |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/dido-harding-matt-hancock-national-institute-health-protection-a4528236.html|title=Matt Hancock defends appointment of Dido Harding as National Institute for Health Protection head|work=Evening Standard|last=Cruse|first=Ellena|date=20 August 2020|access-date=22 August 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/23/britainhealth-boss-harding-cronyism-400227|title=Britain's new health boss sparks cries of cronyism|website=Politico|date=23 August 2020 }} The Guardian quoted allies of hers who, in response, said that she had quickly learned after being appointed chair of NHS Improvement in 2017 and that she had a record of "getting things done" while working in business.

The timing of the reorganisation, during the ongoing pandemic response, was criticised by various health experts and other bodies,{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1136/bmj.m3257|title = Public Health England is axed in favour of new health protection agency|year = 2020|last1 = Iacobucci|first1 = Gareth|journal = BMJ|volume = 370|pages = m3257|pmid = 32816824|s2cid = 221159280|doi-access = free}} including the editorial in the BMJ, the Institute for Government,{{Cite web|last=Nickson|first=Sarah|date=19 August 2020|title=Getting rid of Public Health England will not make dealing with the coronavirus pandemic easier|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/scrapping-phe|access-date=27 February 2021|website=Institute for Government}} The King's Fund,{{Cite web|last=Timmins|first=Nicholas|authorlink=Nicholas Timmins|date=20 August 2020|title=Strengthening health protection: right idea, wrong time|url=https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/blog/2020/08/strengthening-health-protection-right-idea-wrong-time|access-date=30 August 2020|website=The King's Fund|language=en}} and Christina Marriott, the chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health. An editorial in The Guardian compared it to "reorganising a fire brigade as it tries to put out a blaze" and said the decision had been made without proper consultation or scrutiny.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/18/the-guardian-view-on-scrapping-public-health-england-not-just-wrong-but-highly-risky |title=The Guardian view on scrapping Public Health England: not just wrong but highly risky |date=18 August 2020 |accessdate=19 August 2020 |website=The Guardian}}

• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Public Health England
• Public Health Scotland
• Public Health Wales
• Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland)

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-future-of-public-health-the-nihp-and-other-public-health-functions/the-future-of-public-health-the-national-institute-for-health-protection-and-other-public-health-functions September 2020 UK Government Policy Paper setting out the responsibilities of the NIHP]
• [https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/establishing-the-national-institute-for-health-protection/ Establishing the National Institute for Health Protection] – House of Commons Library, February 2021

{{Department of Health (United Kingdom)}}

Category:2021 establishments in England

Category:National public health agencies

Category:Government agencies established in 2021

Category:Executive agencies of the United Kingdom government

Category:COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and government structures