Health inequalities and Patient and public safety were the main themes of the Health Protection Agency Annual Conference. The conference formed part of the UK Presidency of the EU 2005 health programme and was an important showcase for the latest scientific research and developments on a wide range of core issues within health protection.

The conference was widely covered in the national press and brought together over 900 health and scientific professionals working in public health, communicable disease, laboratories, emergency planning, infection control, poisons, chemical, and radiation hazards.