Public Health Emergency, Epidemic or Pandemic Planning
Any form of public health emergency, epidemic or pandemic creates huge uncertainties for entire communities affecting both personal and work life. Dealing with the unpredictability of disease waves, understanding the implications of timescales, lockdowns, increased hygiene and response measures that are adopted locally, nationally and globally is incredibly disruptive and stressful.
When the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, named by the World Health Organisation as COVID-19, emerged at the end of 2019, few predicted the dramatic restrictions that would be imposed by governments around the world in March 2020, and the impact these would have on how we go about our day-to-day lives. Organisations, large and small, experienced variations of operational mode for the duration.
Traditionally, pandemic business continuity planning has focused on the impacts of a widespread disease that causes the unavailability of a significant number of the workforce. As the 2019-2023 pandemic showed, impacts can be much wider as workplaces and transport become no-go areas requiring an immediate shift in working practices. Working from home became the fallback strategy where feasible.
Given the unpredictability of novel disease viruses which can have unique properties in how they manifest themselves, response and recovery strategies would be tailored to the virus's differentials.
Maintaining a focus on planning for a public health emergency is a recognised approach within business continuity planning. Often, our clients will incorporate into their BC plan an overview of key factors to take into account, if and when a health emergency is imminent or declared.
Teed works with clients using the principles of business continuity to adopt lessons learned, developing contingencies and strategies to manage their response and recovery. It is important to factor this into preparing for other resource loss scenarios, whether people or premises unavailability, loss of technology and equipment, key suppliers, or a combination.
Forethought, scenario planning, prompt decision making and effective communication with stakeholders can help maintain business continuity, safeguard jobs, market share and reputation. Reacting to trigger events and materialising risks is much easier when you already have your response, recovery and resumption route mapped out.
How can Teed help?
Our consultants are experienced practitioners who make the best use of time and budgets available to ensure clients receive quality deliverables that work in practice. Using our proven methods, we facilitate discussions with relevant business representatives to determine a plan of action.
Pandemic planning is best factored into the bigger picture encompassing business continuity, IT disaster recovery and cyber security planning and incident management so that all disciplines are working in tandem.
Planning provides confidence to everyone involved with the organisation that a proportionate response can be delivered.