The role of NHS hospitals in the preparedness for nuclear accidents

There are currently two National Health Service (NHS) circulars providing guidance on the measures to be taken in the event of release of radioactivity into the environment. The first of these, Health Circular HC(76)52, published in 1976, deals with national arrangements for incidents involving radioactivity, and is concerned primarily with accidents involving radioactive substances in transit, or at locations where radioactive substances are not normally found. It also gives guidance on the precautions to be taken when handling patients who may have been contaminated by low radioactivity levels. The second Health Circular, HC(85)24, describes emergency arrangements to be adopted by government departments and gives advice on plans needed by Health Authorities at the local level for dealing with accidents at civil nuclear installations. It was issued as a supplement to the Health Circular on Major Accidents (HC(77)1) (1977). The purpose of this paper is to describe the two health circulars, to bring their essential features together in one document, and to discuss them in the light of the Chernobyl accident. (author)