National incident response levels: guidance for health boards

4. Risk Assessment Criteria

The level of response required will be determined using the situational risk assessment criteria detailed below. This is not an exhaustive list, as some impacts of the incident may not be evident at its outset, but indicates the form of assessment required to be undertaken, as set out in the response levels, when determining both the appropriate level of response and any subsequent escalation/de-escalation.

A. the significance of the impact upon Health Boards in terms of resources required to manage the response;

B. public perception/concern, issues of public confidence;

C. Impact on NHS reputation and relationships;

D. Implications for partners and partnerships – resources, reputation, reciprocity;

E. Complexity of the situation and associated competencies for handling;

F. Potential malicious incidents (act of terrorism, deliberate release) will escalate the response to Level 4;

G. Possibility/Likelihood of subsequent adverse events;

H. Consideration should be given to providing a response and de- escalation when appropriate;

I. A state of readiness following de- escalation of an incident in case the situation escalates again (e.g. public riots) or a very low-level response that still requires national coordination.