BSI, NHS Implement Business Continuity
December 15, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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The Department of Health in England and BSI British Standards announced a new initiative designed to increase resilience to major incidents and disruption across the National Health Service (NHS).
This initiative will begin with the implementation of BSI BS 25999 parts 1 and 2 - BSI British Standards' code of practice and specification on business continuity management (BCM).
According to the organizations, the NHS has a record of responding well to major incidents that produce sudden influxes of casualties.
However, it has more limited experience in dealing with rising tide incidents that develop over a longer period of time.
For example, NHS said an influenza pandemic, flooding or restricted energy and water supplies all have the potential to affect it in terms of its ability to continue routine business or maintain patient capacity and organizational infrastructure.
Other threats to business continuity include staff shortages, limited access to premises or failures in technology. Increasingly complex supply chains mean that the failure of key suppliers can also have repercussions for patient care.
The NHS Resilience Project was set up in 2007 to ensure that NHS organizations are maintaining effective BCM plans under the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act. BSI BS 25999-1 - Code of Practice on Business Continuity Management and BSI BS 25999-2 - Specification on Business Continuity Management provide guidelines and requirements for putting BCM arrangements in place.
The Department of Health said it sees the BSI standard as a benchmark against which organizations throughout the NHS can judge their business continuity measures.
"Members of the public expect the NHS to be there for them when they need it, no matter what the circumstances," Phil Storr, head of the NHS Resilience Project at the Department of Health, said.
"While the commitment of NHS staff can be relied upon in the time of a crisis, detailed and comprehensive planning is also vital if the most challenging situations are to be dealt with effectively," Storr said.
"That is why emergency planning is one of the five national priorities set out in this year's Operating Framework for the NHS in England. Through its work with BSI, the NHS Resilience Project will help to guide and inform that planning to ensure that the NHS can be there for the patients who need it, whatever happens."
Source: BSI Group.