Parliamentary Committee says antimicrobial resistance poses a grave threat to health
Rose Gallagher, RCN Professional Lead for Infection Prevention and Control, said:
“Antimicrobial resistance threatens human health on a global scale that has never been seen before, and the UK should be leading the way to protect people now and into the future. While the RCN welcomes the recommendations in this report, the time for discussion is over. The Government must act on these recommendations now.
“The RCN is starting an innovative education programme to reinvigorate infection control education across health and social care, to reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Nurses have long been at the forefront of infection control, and we are educating the leaders of the future. .
“But Government at every level has to do more. We need local authorities to get more engaged - success does not sit solely with the NHS or national government and we need the Chief Medical Officers new strategy to reflect this. Antimicrobial resistance is a public health priority and health, social care and public health must be working together. Inaction now could soon see a resurgence in diseases long thought banished, a return to a time when common infections are untreatable.”
