Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Prioritise better data collection, sharing, and analysis across One Health sectors
Conclusion
There are shortcomings in data collection and sharing, hindering efforts to tackle AMR. The UK government operates a ‘One Health’ approach to AMR, encompassing human health, animal health, food safety and the environment, and intended to facilitate collaboration between these sectors. However, there are significant gaps in the collection of data on animal health relating to AMR, where routine data collection is focused on only pigs and poultry. Data sharing is also limited within the health and care sector, including between primary care and hospitals, or between hospitals and social care. This can make it harder for clinicians to make decisions on infection management and prescribing antimicrobials. DHSC also needs better data on AMR as a health inequalities issue, on which the 2024–29 NAP has a greater focus than before, to understand how groups are disproportionately affected, for example babies, the elderly, people with lower socio-economic status, and specific ethnic groups. recommendation DHSC and Defra should prioritise better data collection, sharing and analysis across human, animal and environmental health spheres. 7 1 The threat of antimicrobial resistance in the UK Introduction
Government Response Summary
The government agrees to prioritize better data collection and sharing, highlighting that UKHSA launched a new data dashboard in February 2025 with further AMR indicators to be uploaded by Autumn 2025. It also commits to developing a joint data strategy with NHSE, and VMD is conducting and funding new animal AMR surveillance pilots until 2029, with a joint UK One Health Report due in 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Health sectors. UKHSA launched a new data dashboard in February 2025, including data on healthcare associated infections and AMR prevalence. Further AMR indicators for urinary tract infections will be uploaded by Autumn 2025. UKHSA has disaggregated ESPAUR report data on antimicrobial use and resistance by factors associated with health inequalities: age, index of multiple deprivation, geography (antimicrobial use and resistance data) and ethnicity (AMR data), to better understand AMR as a health inequalities issue. NHSE is working with UKHSA to develop a joint data strategy to support a coordinated approach to data collection and reporting, including exploring a new national infection management audit to help systems identify key aspects of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infection. While current budgets preclude comprehensive surveillance in healthy animals across all major animal species, Defra’s current prioritisation of monitoring pigs and poultry is appropriate, as pork and poultry are the most consumed meats in the UK. However, research and surveillance pilots in other species are underway. The VMD’s work with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and academic partners on engagement with private veterinary laboratories to address gaps in clinical surveillance data on AMR is funded to the end of 2025–26. In parallel, VMD is developing novel AMR surveillance pilots in healthy animals, including new national projects targeting dogs, cats, and equines, stretching until 2029. Data from earlier AMR pilot studies continue to be analysed and shared across government to support One Health working. The fourth UKHSA and VMD Joint UK One Health Report on AMR and antimicrobial use is also scheduled for publication in 2026.