Protecting our health

The Reading Health Public Health team seeks to protect the health and well-being of people in the borough from infectious diseases to prevent harm and reduce the impact of hazards involving chemicals, poisons and other health threats such as severe weather, flooding and terrorism. We work closely with other organisations to prevent people from becoming ill with diseases that can harm by:  

  • responding to health protection matters to warn, inform and advise the public (e.g. Flu, severe weather, etc)
  • ensuring there are local arrangements in place for detecting and treating communicable diseases (e.g. Tb, healthcare associated infections, food-borne diseases)
  • implementing immunisation programmes (see immunisation)
  • screening 
  • violence prevention 
  • providing training, education and health promotion interventions about infectious diseases for local communities and health professionals 
  • conducting research and development to minimize health risks 
  • responding to international, national and local health alerts 
  • developing local emergency preparedness plans and health policies 
  • ensuring robust business continuity plans are developed and tested 
  • carrying out population needs assessment, health equity audits, evaluation of programmes 
  • putting arrangements in place to respond to major incidents and health protection issues 
  • working with the local HPU in the investigation and management of disease outbreaks 

Infection prevention and control

Hygiene at home

For more information on home hygiene, including tips for cleaning and disinfecting your home to prevent the spread of infection, visit the ‘What is home and everyday life hygiene?’ webpage from International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH). 

Food hygiene

Find advice on keeping safe and preventing food poisoning during cooking, cleaning and during a BBQ, and how to wash fruit and vegetables, prepare and cook food safely, and clean up afterwards. 

For more information visit the ‘Food hygiene’ advice webpage from the Food Standards Agency. 

Hand hygiene

For more information on home hygiene, including tips for cleaning and disinfecting your home to prevent the spread of infection visit the ‘What is home and everyday life hygiene?’ webpage from International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH). 

Try using the ‘How to wash your hands song’ from the NHS to help teach children how to keep themselves safe too by cleaning their hands. 

Preventing and managing infection in adult social care settings

Find guidance on ‘Infection prevention and control in Adult Social Care settings’ on the Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.uk) webpage. 

Preventing and managing infections in children’s settings

Find guidance on ‘Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities’ on the UK Health Security Agency (GOV.uk) webpage. 

Preventing the spread of respiratory infection at work

Find guidance on ‘Reducing the spread of respiratory infections in the workplace’ on the UK Health Security Agency (GOV.uk) webpage. 

Healthcare associated infections (HCAI)

What are HCAI’s and what type of infections are associated with healthcare. Find out more about HCAI.

Bugs – key facts

Public health is about preventing disease, protecting people from threats to their health and keeping people healthy for longer. It encourages society and personal responsibility for changes to better health and minimise the risk and impact of illness.  

Find NHS information on the following bugs:

Last updated on 19/02/2025