Warning over NHS bioterror plans

Ministers say the NHS could cope in the event of an attack

The NHS must draw up plans to treat patients much more quickly in the event of a bioterrorist attack, government advisors have suggested.

In a report, they warned that victims of any attack should be treated at the scene rather than at hospital.

They suggested that ambulance crews could carry antidotes to certain chemicals and nerve agents so that they can treat people quickly.

The Department of Health said it would consider the report's findings.

Toxic chemicals

The Expert Group on Management of Chemical Casualties Caused by Terrorist Activity was set up last year to advise the government on the medical management of patients exposed to toxic chemicals as a result of a terrorist incident.

The committee was established as a precautionary measure and to ensure the NHS is well prepared in case such an attack occurs.

Arrangements need to be in place to ensure that civilian casualties receive antidotal treatment as soon as possible after exposure Expert Group's report

In its first report, the committee outlines what treatments should be given to people who are exposed to nerve agents like Sarin gas, cyanide, mustard gas and chlorine.

It calls on the government to stockpile a drug called asoxime chloride (HI-6) as an antidote to sarin.

It urges ministers to buy autoinjection devices, such as the ComboPen, to make it easier for antidotes to be administered in the event of an attack.

However, it also calls for a review of how the NHS would deal with certain types of attacks.

It warns that people who are exposed to certain nerve agents or chemicals need swift treatment.

"Arrangements need to be in place to ensure that civilian casualties receive antidotal treatment as soon as possible after exposure," the report says.

The committee suggested that in some cases ambulances may want to carry antidotes as a matter of routine.

"Unless ambulances routinely carry antidotes, it is difficult to foresee circumstances where pre-hospital administration is likely to occur unless prior knowledge of an intent to release is available," the report says.

Death risk

In the case of cyanide, it warned that waiting until people arrived in hospital would be pointless.

"Therapy must be given as rapidly as possible after poisoning and it is accepted that this may be difficult in cases of exposure to hydrogen cyanide poisoning resulting from terrorist activity.

"It is, in our view, unlikely that those most in need of therapy could be treated sufficiently quickly to save their lives and that the great majority of those surviving the initial exposure and reaching the point at which therapy could be given, will not benefit from such treatment."

The Department of Health said it was considering the report.

"We asked for this report and we are considering its recommendations," a spokesman said.