Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 44
44
Accepted
Disconnected health data systems and lack of central repository hinder effective antimicrobial stewardship.
Recommendation
Lord O’Neill told us there is an underlying data problem in the health sphere, with many data systems not connecting properly.111 Better data in health would make it easier for clinicians making decisions on infection management and prescribing antimicrobials. The ability to link the results of diagnostic tests to prescription information could result in better antimicrobial stewardship, but a central repository of diagnostics data does not exist. Improved data sharing and collection could also improve information about infections acquired in community settings, such as social care.112 NHS England confirmed to us that it has not achieved what it wanted on data collection and sharing. It said that the NHS is on a journey to improve interoperability and that the federated data platform and extending electronic prescribing into all settings will help.113
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, detailing plans to strengthen data collection and sharing across One Health sectors by Autumn 2026, including new data dashboards, joint data strategies, and novel surveillance pilots extending to 2029.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
9.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Autumn 2026 9.2 The government is working to strengthen data collection and sharing across One Health sectors. 9.3 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. 9.4 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. 9.5 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. 9.6 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. 9.7 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. 9.8 The fourth UKHSA and VMD Joint UK One Health Report on AMR and antimicrobial use is also scheduled for publication in 2026.