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To provide specialist advice to the UK Health Departments on the health
response during an influenza pandemic.
The National Influenza Pandemic Committee is the main forum for provision
of specialist advice to the UK Health Departments to inform their response
to an influenza pandemic. The Committee will play a critical role in ensuring
that UK Health Ministers and Government are provided with timely, high
quality policy and operational advice and recommendations, to support
the health response to an influenza pandemic in the UK.
DH has also established an Influenza Pandemic Scientific Advisory Group
(SAG) which will advise on the scientific evidence base for health-related
pandemic influenza policies. Members of the UKNIPC will take the work
of the Influenza Pandemic SAG into account in its deliberations and in
its reports to the UK Health Departments.
Members of the Committee will:
- bring relevant experience to the Committee;
- contribute to the provision of high quality and considered advice
to UK Health Ministers;
- be expected to make a full and considered contribution to the work
of the Committee and to contribute fully to the debate and to the decision
making processes of the Committee;
- provide guidance when an issue which falls within their particular
area of expertise is under discussion;
- contribute to the debate in the capacity of a well-informed observer
where the issue does not fall within their expertise;
- be prepared, as requested by the Secretariat, occasionally to provide
expert advice on relevant issues outside Committee meetings;
- be prepared to attend as required and contribute to the deliberations
of the Influenza Pandemic Scientific Advisory Group or other appropriate
committees.
In addition to their work on the UKNIPC, members of the Committee may
be called upon to attend the Influenza Pandemic SAG or to provide advice
on matters arising on which the member's particular expertise may be of
assistance to the public service. It is recognised that in a pandemic
situation, such requests may need to be made at short notice and that
deadlines are likely to be very short.
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