Asked by: Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government in what ways they are collaborating with international partners to tackle antimicrobial resistance globally, and what role the UK is playing to shape global policies to address this issue.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The United Kingdom champions global action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and played a lead role in the shaping and adoption of the political declaration on AMR at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The declaration secured commitments on establishing an independent science panel and improved global access to antibiotics. Global governance will be crucial to implementing the commitments, and the UK is committed to working with multilateral fora, such as the G7 and G20, to push for continued momentum on delivering the High-Level Meeting’s commitments and driving ambitious policies that improve access to effective antimicrobials.
In addition, the £210 million Fleming Fund is the largest single investment in global AMR surveillance. This programme partners with governments from Low- and Middle-Income Countries, UN agencies, and key academic institutions from around the world to strengthen surveillance systems and use data to tackle AMR’s deadly impact in countries across Africa and Asia. The £145 million Global AMR Innovation Fund funds innovative products, like therapeutics, preventatives, and diagnostics, to prevent and mitigate AMR, working closely with Product Development Partnerships such as the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention attended the fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in Jeddah, between 15 and 16 November. Together with other global leaders, the UK adopted the Jeddah Commitments, a framework for global action to combat AMR through a One Health approach.
Asked by: Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what specific funding has been allocated in 2024–25 for research and development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies to combat antimicrobial resistance; and how this compares to funding allocated over the previous five years.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
To date, in 2024/25, the Department, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has allocated over £1.2 million for research and development of new antibiotics and alternative therapies. Further research in this area may still be funded this financial year. This compares to a total of £19.5 million of funding allocated to this area of research over the previous five-year period.
The NIHR has also recently announced a further £11 million of funding over five years, for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, through a new NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU), focused on healthcare associated infections and AMR research. The new HPRU will launch in April 2025.
Asked by: Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what initiatives are being implemented in schools and universities to educate both healthcare professionals and the general public about the dangers of antimicrobial resistance.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works with partners to provide the evidence base and technical expertise to support best practice in infection prevention and control in health and care and settings, such as schools and prisons.
For schools, the UKHSA’s e-Bug programme contributes to efforts to reduce infection, and strengthen stewardship, by providing free educational resources. Further information is available on the e-Bug website, in an online only format.
For health students, the UKHSA has updated the Antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship competency framework. The UKHSA also works with the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy’s Keep Antibiotics Working resource group and the National Antimicrobial Pharmacists Education Group, to make educational material available for medical, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy students. Further information is available on the Royal College of General Practitioners’ website, in an online only format.
The UKHSA coordinates the national planning group which drives the direction of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), and has updated resources on the GOV.UK website, which include a toolkit to support local WAAW and European Antibiotic Awareness Day campaigns. For professional audiences, the UKHSA produces the TARGET Antibiotics Toolkit, hosted on Royal College of General Practitioners’ website. Further information is available on the toolkit at the Royal College of General Practitioners’ website, in an online only format.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to improve the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of Lyme disease.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
There are several studies and projects being undertaken in the United Kingdom looking at the prevalence and distribution of Lyme disease. Examples include two studies undertaken in association with National Institute of Health Research. One is focussing on studying the evolution of the disease in patients, and the second is examining the evidence of exposure to the Lyme disease bacteria in the English population.
Clinical advice for general practitioners (GPs) and hospital physicians on Lyme disease is available from the National Health Service. Most cases are diagnosed based on clinical signs by GPs, and laboratory testing is widely available for more complicated cases.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides Lyme disease laboratory testing services for England and Wales and issues detailed advice on sample testing.
Lyme disease is treatable with a course of antibiotics in accordance with national guidelines. However, if left untreated, the infection can spread to affect the nervous system, joints, or the heart. More information on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is available at the following link:
The UKHSA’s Be Tick Aware toolkit provides information resources to enable local stakeholders to deliver public health information on ticks and tick-borne disease prevention directly to their population and visitors. The toolkit is available at the following link:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642e966bfbe620000f17ddbe/Be_tick_aware_toolkit.pdf
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the life sciences sector to develop drugs to eliminate TB.
Answered by Feryal Clark
The Government is committed to renewing UK leadership in Life Sciences, working in partnership with industry to drive innovation and treatments in key disease areas which help patients.
The Medical Research Council have funded a project at University College London to develop new antibiotics for the treatment of TB. Our Joint Global Health Trials Scheme is also collaborating between MRC, FCDO, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Welcome Trust on a project specifically looking to improve outcomes for children with TB. We will continue to work with and support the sector in developing treatments for diseases such as TB.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to integrate an understanding of antimicrobial resistance in the design of health and social care facilities, veterinary practices, and farms, as specified in their five-year action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government continues to work with a range of stakeholders towards the successful completion of the commitment to prioritise infection prevention and control (IPC), the management of infections and biosecurity in the built environment, ensuring that an understanding of antimicrobial resistance is integrated into health and social care estate design, veterinary practices, and farm settings, as specified in the UK AMR National Action Plan 2024-2029. The plan recognises the importance of the healthcare environment, not only as a potential source of infection, but also how building design can facilitate effective IPC practices.
Despite a growing body of evidence to suggest that the hospital-built environment, its fabric, layout, and equipment, can contribute to the spread of infection, the mechanisms are still not fully understood. The UK Health Security Agency has unique expertise and capabilities for investigating how the indoor environment contributes to the spread of infection, including aerobiology expertise deployed during various outbreaks, for example in COVID-19 and Mpox, and a dedicated research facility designed and built to simulate a hospital ward.
The age of much of the National Health Service estate means there is an ongoing need for repair, renovation, or replacement. Decisions made during the design, build, or refurbishment process are informed by the latest evidence, considering the spread of infection alongside a range of other factors.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs works with the veterinary sector and livestock industry to promote good practices and ensure the farm environment and design enables the rearing of healthy animals, reducing the need for antibiotics.
Asked by: Kim Leadbeater (Labour - Spen Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase awareness of urinary tract infections (UTIs); and if he will (a) take steps to support research on the (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment of UTIs and (b) have discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on raising awareness of UTIs in schools.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The Department has a number of existing partnerships to help promote awareness of urology conditions. NHS England is partnering with P-Wave for a campaign targeted at men, specifically focussing on blood in urine as a possible symptom of cancer. The partnership has seen more than 430,000 P-Wave urinal mats distributed around the United Kingdom since its launch, with the awareness message appearing in pubs, workplaces, and sporting and music venues. Further information is available at the following link:
NHS England has been focusing on improving the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions. NHS England is undertaking a programme of work as part of its antimicrobial resistance programme focusing on prevention, diagnostics, and treatment of chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Through funding the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department has invested and supported multiple studies investigating the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs. Some examples of NIHR-funded UTI diagnosis and treatment research are: investigating the application of novel diagnostic tests to improve the symptom-treatment cycle time of UTIs; improving the diagnosis of recurrent UTIs; and the use of antimicrobial-impregnated catheters to reduce episodes of catheter-associated UTIs.
More specifically, the NIHR has recently invested £3.1 million into the Improving Primary Care Antibiotic Prescribing UTI programme, a research programme investigating improvements to primary care prescribing, to reduce antibiotic resistant urine infections. NIHR-funded research into UTI diagnosis and treatment has proven to benefit UK patient treatment, and in 2022 research funded by the NIHR found methenamine to be as good as and therefore an alternative to antibiotics, at preventing UTIs, and may reduce the incidence on antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published the guideline Urinary tract infection in under 16s: diagnosis and management in 2007, and reissued in 2022, following an update. The guideline covers diagnosing and managing first or recurrent upper or lower UTI in babies, children, and young people under 16 years old. It aims to achieve more consistent clinical practice, based on accurate diagnosis and effective management. We have not held any discussions with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education about UTI diagnosis in schools.
Asked by: Caroline Johnson (Conservative - Sleaford and North Hykeham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on (a) the number of (i) acute admissions to hospital, (ii) patients attending emergency departments, (iii) elderly people (A) with pneumonia, (B) requiring antibiotics and (C) GP appointments, (b) the risk of death in elderly people, (c) the number of deaths and (d) NHS expenditure.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The Government is committed to a preventative approach to the public’s health. Keeping people warm and well at home, and improving the quality of new and existing homes, will play an essential part in enabling people to live longer, healthier lives, and reducing pressures on the National Health Service.
In deciding on Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, the Government had regard to the equality analysis, in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty requirements. The equality analysis was published on 13 September 2024, and is available at the following link:
The NHS is preparing for coming winter pressures as it does each year, and there will be an absolute focus on minimising long waiting times in accident and emergency and supporting patient safety.
We will continue to stand behind vulnerable households this winter. Support includes delivering the £150 Warm Home Discount for low-income households from October, extending the Household Support Fund with £421 million, to ensure local authorities can support vulnerable people and families, and ensuring around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payments. Through our commitment to protect the triple lock, over 12 million pensioners will benefit, with many expected to see their State Pension increase by more than £1,000 over the next five years.
The fuel poverty strategy for England, Sustainable warmth: protecting vulnerable households in England, was published in February 2021. The 2021 strategy is currently under review. The Department of Health and Social Care works closely with the Department for Energy and Net Zero to ensure that fuel poor and health vulnerable households are supported.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 15 January 2024 to Question 8936 on Streptococcus: Screening, when he expects to receive the response of the UK National Screening Committee's findings on the outcome of the Group B Streptococcus trials.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded the GBS3 trial. It is looking at whether testing all pregnant women for Group B Streptococcus and giving them antibiotics reduces the risk of infection in newborn babies, compared to the current strategy in place in the United Kingdom. The current strategy in the UK is to offer antibiotics during labour to women who are considered at raised risk of their baby developing a Group B Streptococcus infection.
Recruitment to the trial ended in May 2024. The researchers are analysing the data, and a report is expected in Summer 2025. The UK National Screening Committee Secretariat is in close and regular contact with the researchers. The committee will review its recommendation considering the evidence from the trial, after the report is presented.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their policy paper Confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029, published on 8 May, how the importance placed on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in that paper will be implemented; and whether there will be increased finance for WASH.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
Proactive infection prevention and control, in terms of patient safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within the public health system, is a core element of the national action plan.
Nationally, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works with partners to provide the evidence base and technical expertise to support best practice in infection prevention and control (IPC) in health and care and other settings, such as schools and prisons. A dedicated research facility at Porton Down also supports studies on the effectiveness of IPC procedures and the role of the built environment in AMR transmission.
Internationally, AMR activities are supported through a variety of global health initiatives. The World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on AMR and Healthcare Associated Infections, which is housed by UKHSA, also provides support for training on AMR diagnostics and surveillance. School aged children can also learn about microbes, IPC, antibiotics and vaccination from free resources via the e-Bug programme.
The Government continues to finance WASH and global WASH leadership. levels of finance in 2025 and beyond will be confirmed by a Government-wide spending review.