UKHSA staff do cutting edge work and they deserve to be doing it in cutting edge facilities

The National Audit Office has released a report highlighting extensive disrepair at key UK Health Security Agency sites in Porton Down and Colindale.

Construction of what would be a replacement site in Harlow has stalled, and even if started again now would not be finished for around a decade.

Garry Graham, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect said:

“Some of the most sensitive and vital work on pathogens in the country is done at UKHSA labs, keeping the country safe from natural and manmade threats.

“This is important and sometimes stressful work, workers deserve the right facilities and clarity over the organisation’s plan for where it will be based in future.

“Prospect members at UKHSA are doing cutting edge work and they deserve to be doing it in cutting edge facilities. It’s time the government got a grip or they may find they are unable to cope when the next pandemic, or other serious incident, comes along.”