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Antimicrobial Resistance
07 December 2021
Lead MP
Kevin Hollinrake
Thirsk and Malton
Con
Responding Minister
Maggie Throup
Tags
TaxationForeign Affairs
Word Count: 8060
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Kevin Hollinrake raised concerns about antimicrobial resistance in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should introduce annual reports for partners on actions in the national action plan, consider the next steps for evolving the AMR pilot into a new permanent model, and comment on conversations with NHS England and NICE about implementing learnings at scale and pace.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Antibiotic resistance is a hidden pandemic that could claim up to 10 million lives annually by 2050. In the UK, antibiotic resistance increased by 4.9% between 2016 and 2020, with one in five people having resistant infections in 2020. A mother named Helen experienced three resistant infections, including sepsis shortly after giving birth.
Anum Qaisar
Lab
Dewsbury
Anum Qaisar thanked Kevin Hollinrake for securing the debate and highlighted the importance of awareness and political traction. She noted that antimicrobial resistance poses a threat to healthcare, with 1,312 antibiotic-resistant bloodstream infections in Scotland last year. She pointed out overuse of antibiotics in treating sore throats and the need to reduce their use. Qaisar also addressed the issue of using antibiotics in animal feed and its potential risks for human health.
Gary Streeter
Con
South West Cornwall
Reminded Members to wear face coverings, follow covid lateral flow testing guidance and maintain social distancing in accordance with current government guidelines.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the global and regional impact of antibiotic resistance, citing Northern Ireland's chief medical officer's warning that by 2050 there could be about 10 million deaths annually from drug-resistant infections. He raised concerns over hospital admissions due to such infections in England and stressed the need for action now. He also acknowledged the progress made by farmers unions in reducing antibiotic usage, particularly in pig and poultry sectors.
Julian Sturdy
Con
Helmshore
Stressed the need for the Government to assess how covid has impacted antibiotic resistance, noting the potential of AMR to surpass the effects of the pandemic. He suggested increasing financial commitment now and called for raising the £10 million cap on the Government's AMR project subscription trial. Sturdy also urged building more laboratory capacity in middle-income countries as part of aid strategies and emphasised the need for cross-Government action on AMR.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
Ms Smyth highlighted the concern about the lack of improvement in the situation regarding antimicrobial resistance despite being world leaders in this area. She cited Professor Dame Sally Davies' 2013 warning that if action was not taken, people could die from routine surgery due to untreatable infections by 2050. Ms Smyth mentioned the 2016 report estimating a $40 billion cost for global action and noted that progress since then has been slow.
Theresa Villiers
Con
Chipping Barnet
Stressed the urgent need for policy reforms to create market conditions that enable sustainable investment in antibiotic innovation, highlighting the high failure rates of antibiotic development and the importance of a subscription-style model for antibiotics. Emphasised the need for increased public understanding of the dangers of over-prescribing or misusing antibiotics and tackling overuse in farming.
Government Response
Maggie Throup
Government Response
Acknowledged the significant global health challenge of antimicrobial resistance, noting over 55,000 cases and more than 2,000 estimated deaths in England last year. Discussed actions including reducing antibiotic use by 52% since 2014, a new Netflix-style subscription model for antibiotics starting payments in 2022, and enhancing AMR data recording through upgraded software. Mentioned global efforts like the G7 presidency commitments on AMR resilience, innovation, and stewardship.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.