New UK pandemic agency up and running

A new Government agency aimed at protecting the UK from future health threats has been formally established.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be led by Dr Jenny Harries and will seek to ensure the country can respond to any future pandemics "quickly and at greater scale".

It will take the lead on health protection and security activity in England - taking over from the Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace.

Dr Harries said the agency offered a "brilliant opportunity" to ensure lessons from the coronavirus pandemic can be learned.

She said: "It is a significant moment as the work of the UK Health Security Agency begins with a specific focus on pandemics and public health threats," she said.

"We have learned so much from responding to Covid-19.

"And this is a brilliant opportunity to ensure these lessons can be applied in the future, with the scale and capacity needed to save lives and protect the public.”

She added: "There is work to do right away as we continue our fight against Covid-19.

"Even with the success of our vaccine programme so far, and the tentative steps we have made on the road map to return to normality.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This is an important day as we launch the UK Health Security Agency to ensure that we protect the public and prepare for the next pandemic.

"The team will spend every day focused on the current and future health threats facing our country.

"So we are always ready for whatever is on the horizon."