Health protection

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What is health protection?

Health protection practice aims to prevent, assess, and mitigate risks and threats to human health arising from communicable diseases and exposure to environmental hazards. Health protection is dynamic and responsive to the current health needs of the population.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting the public from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats.

Whilst the UKHSA has a duty to deliver the specialist health protection response, local authorities have a critical role in protecting the health of their population, both in terms of planning to prevent threats arising, and in ensuring appropriate responses to incidents and outbreaks.

The effective delivery of local health protection services requires close partnership working between the UKHSA, the NHS, local government, and other key partners.

In the first instance, report outbreaks or notifiable diseases to the UKHSA Sussex and Surrey local health protection team:

Email: SE.AcuteResponse@ukhsa.gov.uk

Phone: 0344 225 3861

Out of hours urgent enquiries: 0844 967 0069

For any other general queries or for advice, contact us: Health.Protection@eastsussex.gov.uk

Immunisation Service for Children and Young People

The NHS HPV vaccination programme in England, delivered in schools, has dramatically lowered HPV infections and rates of cervical cancer in vaccine-eligible women, with the strongest effects seen in those offered vaccination at younger ages. Over a quarter of pupils missing out on HPV vaccine - GOV.UK

Infection prevention and control

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a practical, evidence-based approach preventing residents, health workers and the public from being harmed by avoidable infections.

Preventing and reducing the transmission of infectious diseases is essential to ensuring people stay healthy.

Examples of infection control practices include hand washing, cleaning, and wearing personal protective equipment.

Adult residential settings

For general advice or support regarding infection control, contact us. Email Health.Protection@eastsussex.gov.uk

Infection control training

There is a range of infection control training available for East Sussex care workers, including infection control champions training for residential homes.

Email the team for more information: IPC.ChampionsProgramme@eastsussex.gov.uk

For an introduction to the fundamentals of infection prevention and control, see our infection control e-learning course on the East Sussex Learning Portal.

IPC Measures and Face Mask Wearing Communication December 2025

Current Situation

The UK is experiencing an early and severe influenza season with NHS England reporting increases in hospital attendances and admissions for influenza/ influenza like illnesses. UK Health Security Agency advises that influenza activity is at medium levels nationally and schools across the UK are reporting high absence rates. Locally our hospitals are seeing increased influenza cases prompting mask-wearing in emergency gateway areas and respiratory outbreak areas. Infection prevention and control standard and transmission-based precautions should be undertaken to support preventing the spread of infections.

Due to rising influenza cases, we recommend all health and social care providers conduct a risk assessment for mask use to minimise transmission and maintain safe staffing levels, along with reviewing current IPC practices and ensuring all staff are aware of and are following your organisations policy.

Awareness Raising

Influenza vaccine: Recommend to all eligible individuals and to health and social care staff.

Staff are unwell: Stay away, do not attend work if you have respiratory symptoms and a high temperature >38 degrees Celsius. Staff can return once they are feeling better and no longer have a high temperature. Consider working from home if viable. Encourage mask use when staff return to work if residual symptoms remain e.g. cough.

Ventilation: Encourage in waiting and clinical assessment areas ( windows open).

Please see below information for consideration and awareness.

Standard and transmission-based infection prevention and control precautions

Hand hygiene: Frequent and correct handwashing with water and soap for visibly dirty hands or when in contact with diarrhoea. Use of alcohol-based hand rubs when hands are visibly clean - do not use if a person has diarrhoea.

Respiratory/cough hygiene: Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; disposing of tissues properly and promptly and then undertake hand hygiene.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): To reduce the risk of respiratory infection transmission and support staff attendance, please consider mask wearing within your organisation. Use of gloves, aprons, and masks when indicated following risk assessment. Offering masks for attendees’ respiratory symptoms to be worn in patient assessment and waiting areas. Offering masks for patient facing staff including reception and pharmacy dispensing areas.

Patient Equipment/ Environmental decontamination: Continue regular cleaning of patient equipment and the environment. Consider enhanced cleaning of highly touched points e.g. door handles, telephones, light switches etc. Use the products available to you e.g. combined detergent/disinfection wipes for routine cleaning or 1,000ppm avilable chlorine, after an outbreak or a patient is discharged with a suspected or confirmed infection as part of your deep/terminal clean process.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Champions Training 2025

We are running IPC Champions Training for East Sussex care workers.

The sessions will be delivered online via Microsoft Teams on:

Tuesday 22 July 2025
Thursday 25 September 2025
Tuesday 21 October 2025
Friday 21 November 2025
Wednesday 17 December 2025

All sessions are 9.30am to 4pm. You need to attend one training session date only.

About the sessions

Your certificate is valid for 2 years after which you will need to attend a refresher training session.

The aim is to support someone to take on an IPC Champion role in their setting to promote IPC practice and act as a role model for good practice.

It is essential that the person attending this training is an East Sussex care worker and is either a senior carer or support worker, registered nurse or registered manager.

Champion's responsibilities in the workplace

Help create an environment which will promote and improve the safety of residents, staff and visitors in relation to infection prevention and control.
Convert IPC policy into achievable 'do-able' practice.
Able to challenge poor practice and empower others to provide care safely.
Acts as a resource person and role model for staff in relation to best IPC practice at all times.