The NHS has stockpiled drugs and equipment

A report by the Commons public accounts committee has found that while some parts of the health service are prepared for an attack using chemical, biological or radioactive weapons others are not.

The report comes five months after a study by the National Audit Office concluded the NHS would struggle to cope in the event of a major terrorist strike.

The Department of Health said it had done "a huge amount of work" to ensure the NHS would be able to deal effectively with casualties in the event of an attack.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and senior government ministers have warned that Britain remains a possible target for terrorists.

Poor picture

It their report, MPs criticised the Department of Health for failing to get an accurate picture of how well prepared the NHS is.

It states: "At a time of heightened risk of terrorist attacks, parts of the NHS are not well prepared to handle the emerging threats from nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological incidents.

We are better prepared than ever Department of Health spokesman

"The department lacks a full picture of the risks involved across the country or means of ensuring that each region has plans, training and equipment in place consistent with those risks."

MPs urged officials to identify and help those trusts that are not yet ready to deal with an attack.

"As part of its review of major incident plans and further work with those trusts that are not well prepared, the department should ensure that regional and trust plans are based on rigorous risk assessments and that resources are allocated in line with those risks."

The committee also called on trusts to review and test their communication policies in the event of an attack.

The report says: "Poor communications can be a major weakness in the effective handling of major incidents at the scene.

"Yet, many major incident plans did not address communication issues sufficiently, communication plans are not tested as frequently as they should be, co-operation with other agencies such as the fire service and local authorities is patchy and there is a need to improve communications."

The report comes one month after it emerged that some chemical suits issued to accident and emergency staff in the event of a terrorist attack are leaky.

Emergency stockpiles

In November, the National Audit Office found at least one in four major hospitals and one in three ambulance services are "not well prepared" to deal with an attack involving chemical, biological or radioactive weapons.

The Department of Health said it had spent �100m over the past year on ensuring the NHS could deal with an attack. Officials have issued guidelines and stockpiled vaccines, antibiotics and equipment in case of an attack.

A spokesman said: "A huge amount of work has been done to improve NHS preparedness."

He added: "We are better prepared than ever, but this is an area where further improvements can always be made.

"We will consider carefully the recommendations of this report and respond in due course."

Opposition parties urged the government to step up efforts to ensure the NHS could cope in the event of an attack.

Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "It is deplorable that 19 months after 11 September attacks and in light of events in Iraq the NHS is still not fully prepared for a bio-chemical attack.

He added: "When will the government act to ensure the NHS are fully equipped to deal with an attack?"

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Dr Evan Harris said: "It is no good some parts of the NHS being ready, and others not. The public deserve 100% preparedness for a chemical, biological or radioactive attack."