Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 45
45
Accepted
Strong indications link AMR to health inequalities, but routine data on this issue remains limited.
Conclusion
There are strong indications that AMR is also a health inequalities issue. The most deprived quintile of the population being nearly 50% more likely to get a drug-resistant bloodstream infection than the least deprived quintile (38.1 people per 100,000 as opposed to 26.7 people per 100,000). Babies, the elderly, patients with compromised immune systems and certain ethnic groups are also more likely to be affected by AMR. However, routine data on the inequalities issue is very limited.114 Addressing this issue is a new area of focus in the 2024–29 NAP, including a commitment to collect better data. Dr Partridge spoke positively about the new focus on looking at the impact of deprivation.115 107 Q 92; C&AG’s Report, paras 3.18, 3.19 108 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.4, 3.2 109 Q 56 110 C&AG’s Report, para 3.21 111 Q 7 112 Q 36; C&AG’s Report, para 3.21 113 Qq 84, 87 114 Q 31; C&AG’s Report, paras 1.17, 3.21 115 Q 22 22
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the conclusion, setting an Autumn 2026 target. They are strengthening data collection, with UKHSA launching a new dashboard in February 2025 and adding more indicators by Autumn 2025, and NHSE developing a joint data strategy with UKHSA including a new national infection management audit.
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.