Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) diagnostic services, and (2) antimicrobial stewardship, in NHS health trusts.

In October 2020, Professor Sir Mike Richards published Diagnostics: Recovery and Renewal: Report of the Independent Review of Diagnostic Services for NHS England. The review identified the need for investment in and reform of diagnostics services, with recommendations including the separation of acute and elective diagnostics, supported by the establishment of community diagnostics centres (CDCs). We have now made £2.3 billion available for diagnostic services in line with these recommendations, including the launch of up to 160 CDCs by March 2025. A copy of the review is attached.

The UK Health Security Agency published English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR). Report 2020 to 2021. The report assessed national data on antimicrobial prescribing, resistance, and stewardship activities. The 2020/21 report highlighted that routine antimicrobial stewardship activities had been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a number of positive outcomes were also identified, such as increased use of tests to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections. A copy of the 2020/21 ESPAUR report is attached.