New health agency may delay response to attack

An anthrax or smallpox terrorist attack could find Britain dangerously unprepared if plans to break up the national public health laboratories go ahead.

Government plans to merge the 47 public health laboratories into a new Health Protection Agency and put them under the control of individual NHS trusts would delay the response to germ warfare, said Brian Gee, the manager of a Midlands laboratory.

It could hamper the diagnosis of stricken patients and the identification of chemical or biological agents, he said. "Speed is necessary in the response to bioterrorism. In the case of something unusual, like anthrax, rapid diagnosis and excellent contacts between laboratories is essential. But the Government plans will undermine that and destroy the networks between laboratories."

Chris Grayling, a Tory health spokesman, warned that the agency may find it hard to cope with an attack.