Crisis planning ‘has been hit by distraction of Brexit’

Brexit preparations have left South tyneside without up-to-date plans for dealing with crisis incidents such as floods and mass illness outbreaks, leaders have said.

Health chiefs for the borough have insisted they do still have measures in place if anything were to happen which required a major response.

But following an update on health protection measures, they claim the time and effort taken up with preparations for the potential fallout of leaving the european Union without a withdrawal agreement in place has meant attention has been diverted away from contingencies for other events.

“there’s not much in the report on preparedness for severe incidents or weather issues or pandemic flu, for example,” said tom Hall, the council’s director of public health. “that’s not to say we haven’t been focused on that and it’s very much on our radar, but we need to update our flu plan and look at our flood response arrangements.

“i must say, though, Brexit has taken a huge amount of energy out of our emergency planning. it has drawn a lot of capacity towards thinking about our response to a [possible] no-deal Brexit.

“When Brexit is out of the way we will be back to thinking about those things.”

Mr Hall also updated the council’s health and well-being board on the borough’s winter flu season preparations. Flu jabs are already available and as well as focusing on giving vaccines to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and pregnant women, health and social care workers are also being prioritised.