'A system that is struggling': understanding health protection resilience in England during the COVID-19 pandemic through the experiences of local health protection responders.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Local health protection systems play a crucial role in infectious disease prevention and control and were critical to COVID-19 pandemic responses. Despite this vital function, few studies have explored the lived experience of health protection responders managing COVID-19. We provide new insights by examining how COVID-19 shaped infectious disease prevention and control in local health protection systems in England.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty local health protection responders from three contrasting local authority areas, and Public Health England (PHE) health protection teams, in England between June 2021 - March 2022. Participants were from: PHE health protection teams (n=6); local authority public health teams (n=5); local aut

SUBMITTER: Rotheram S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10854171 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature