The UK government has appointed a H1N1 "czar" to deal with the threat of a pandemic, the BBC reported on its Web site Wednesday.

Ian Dalton, currently chief executive of NHS North East, will become national director for National Health Service Flu Resilience. He will ensure that the NHS "is in the best possible position to protect the population," the health secretary said.

Dalton, who will take up the post immediately, will coordinate the supply of anti-viral medication and the implementation of any future vaccination programme.