Health protection helps keep people safe from infectious diseases, environmental hazards, and chemical or radiation threats.
The Director of Public Health (DPH) in each Local Authority is placed in the centre of local health protection systems with the statutory responsibility for protecting the health of the population under the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012).
As well as major programmes such as national immunisation programmes and the provision of health services to diagnose and treat infectious diseases, health protection involves planning, surveillance, screening populations for diseases, and emergency preparedness and response to incidents, outbreaks, natural and man-made disasters.
Report a notifiable disease or hazard (professionals only)
Local services
Find out more about local services contributing to Health Protection such as vaccinations and immunisations, sexual health, HIV prevention and local air quality.
Health protection is an essential area of Public Health
Health protection aims to keep people safe from:
- infectious disease; through managing and preventing the spread of communicable diseases like ‘flu, tuberculosis (TB) and measles.
- environmental hazards; through monitoring and managing the impact of pollutants and hazards like chemicals, radiation, and extreme weather events.
- public health emergencies; by ensuring the local community is prepared for, and can respond to, health crises, such as pandemics and natural disasters.
Without strong health protection measures, diseases could spread rapidly, health systems could become overwhelmed, and environmental and man-made risks could significantly impact public health.
Key facts about health protection
- Around 15 million deaths occur annually worldwide due to infectious diseases.
- Vaccinations prevent 3.5–5 million deaths worldwide each year.
- Globally, climate change and pollution may contribute to 250,000 additional deaths annually by 2050.
Through proactive prevention, surveillance, and response strategies, health protection plays a vital role in reducing the number of deaths, improving quality of life, and strengthening global health resilience.
Health protection is an area of Public Health focus in Havering
Havering faces several external threats to public health, including infectious disease outbreaks and environmental hazards, like air pollution.
With one of the highest proportions of older adults in London, and a rapidly increasing child population, protecting residents, especially those in high-risk groups (e.g., older adults, children, and those with long-term conditions), is a key local priority.
The Director of Public Health (DPH) leads local health protection efforts, overseeing local responses to disease outbreaks, environmental risks, and emergencies.
By understanding local health patterns, local authorities can implement targeted interventions to protect residents effectively.
Local Health Protection Priorities include:
- infectious disease control – Recent disease outbreaks in London (eg measles and whooping cough) highlight the need for strong immunisation programs and community-based health surveillance.
- environmental health – As is the case across London, air quality monitoring has identified poor air quality, representing an area for improvement.
- health inequality reduction – Tailored local interventions help protect vulnerable populations and improve vaccination rates to enhance community protection.
- community resilience – Rapid response to health threats ensures stability in essential services, businesses, and daily life.
What we do in Havering
Effective health protection relies on strong partnerships between the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the NHS, local government, and community organisations.
The Havering Public Health team work closely with these partners to ensure resident safety through immunisation programs, disease surveillance, environmental monitoring, and emergency preparedness.
Key initiatives
- Vaccination and Immunisation. We run specific vaccination campaigns (such as ‘flu and MMR) in collaboration with healthcare providers and schools.
- Air Quality Monitoring. Pollution levels are tracked and measures aligned with Havering’s Air Quality Action Plan are implemented locally.
- Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Control. Local cases of specific diseases are monitored and we contribute to outbreak control measures through coordinating rapid response efforts, particularly in schools and care homes.
- Emergency Preparedness. We conduct regular training and simulation exercises to implement effective prevention and improve crisis response.
- Community Engagement. We provide accessible health protection information, advice and resources to support residents.
How you can make a change
Members of the public can:
- get vaccinated. Accept the offer of vaccinations for yourself and your children when invited and offer support to adult family members to access vaccinations.
- practice good hygiene – Wash hands, cover coughs, and follow health guidance.
- protect the effectiveness of antibiotics – use antibiotics only as prescribed. Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections. Overuse and misuse contribute to antibiotic resistance.
- reduce Pollution Impact – Support air quality efforts by using public or active (e.g. walking/cycling) transport, recycle and dispose of waste appropriately.
- report Health and Environmental Risks – Notify authorities about hazards or disease outbreaks.
- stay Informed – Follow Havering Council and NHS updates on health protection.
Professionals working in the area can:
- report Notifiable Diseases: Health professionals should promptly report any notifiable diseases or unusual patterns of illness to the local Health Protection team to enable timely intervention and prevent outbreaks.
- promote and facilitate vaccinations among high-risk and vulnerable populations.
- protect the effectiveness of antibiotics – support the change in prescribing behaviours and the expectations of patients to ensure that antibiotics are not overused or misused.
- stay updated with infection prevention and control best practices and guidelines.
- collaborate with other professionals: Share information and data across health services, local authorities, and environmental teams to ensure coordinated responses to health protection issues.
- engage in training and preparedness: Regularly participate in health protection training, outbreak management protocols, and emergency preparedness drills to ensure effective crisis response when required.