Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK Health Security Agency’s guidance, Infection prevention and control for multidrug-resistant organisms in adult social care settings, published on 5 January 2026, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the heightened risk of infection, including infection resistant to antibiotics, among many people receiving adult social care; and if she will ensure that this risk is reflected in the planning, workforce training and funding of social care reform.

Baroness Casey has made clear that one of the core purposes of the Big Conversation on Care that she is leading is to hear from all individuals and organisations with expertise on the problems facing the current social care system, so she can reflect their analysis in her recommendations for reform. That will include the concerns raised about the heightened risks of infection, and antibiotic-resistant infections, in adult social care settings. The Government will wait for the outcome of Baroness Casey’s review before considering next steps.