Andrew Gwynne, parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department of Health and Social Care, has set out the priorities for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the next financial year.
He addressed the letter to Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UKHSA.
Gwynne said: "UKHSA provides expert public health scientific expertise; data creation, collation, sharing and analysis; and surveillance capabilities and operational response to strengthen public health protection and security capability across the UK."
UKHSA prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, including pandemics, environmental hazards and other external health threats, to keep all communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.
They prepare for, prevent and respond to threats from infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, other environmental hazards, such as extreme weather events, and health hazards that arise from disasters.
He said UKHSA will "provide strong national leadership on public health security and health protection, ensure a cohesive response across England and the UK’s health protection functions
provide effective clinical, scientific and operational functions to support the health system’s ability to protect the public from health hazards.
"UKHSA, where applicable, will align and input to relevant work within the health and social care system, across government and internationally. UKHSA will routinely engage with DHSC, ministers and across government to support transparency and efficient delivery and continued co-ordination in undertaking Parliamentary and public engagement.
"UKHSA’s engagement with international partners should advance the UK’s global health objectives as set out in the Global Health Framework."
He added that UKHSA will ensure that reducing disparities in health outcomes is a core objective of activities across their remit, and support actions taken by DHSC to reduce health disparities.
He told Harries that UKHSA will be a "trusted source of public health advice and scientific expertise and work closely with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO)."
Gwynne said: "The CMO will be the ultimate arbiter for advice on scientific and clinical matters, will be formally consulted by UKHSA on wider public health protection strategy and will be the professional lead for UKHSA’s most senior medical professionals. The CMO will co-ordinate closely with UKHSA in support of the agency’s global public health remit. UKHSA will also work closely with the CMOs for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland."
In terms of pandemic and major epidemics preparedness, Gwynne said UKHSA will work to develop specific operational response plans in line with the principles set out in the refreshed strategic framework.
This will include pandemic response planning across all routes of transmission for UKHSA while also supporting DHSC on wider pandemic planning and the respiratory response plan for a UK-wide health and care response as well as wider government threat-response planning support the capabilities assessment led by DHSC to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach for future investment.
You can find more of Gwynne's priorities here.