Value for Money
Investigation into how government is addressing antimicrobial resistance
Published 26 February 2025
6 recommendations
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Department of Health and Social Care
Health and social carePublic healthRisk and resilience
nao.org.uk
A new report from the National Audit Office finds that government has made limited progress on combatting antimicrobial resistance.
Recommendations (6)
Source: NAO Recommendations Tracker
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department of Health and Social Care; NHS England and NHS Improvement; UK Health Security Agency
Rec 1
Accepted
Implemented
The government should consider how delivery of its current targets and commitments can be more successful than in NAP19?24, including through the use of strengthened performance monitoring and deadlines for implementation
Department of Health and Social Care; NHS England and NHS Improvement; UK Health Security Agency
Rec 2
Accepted
Implemented
The government should consider whether targets for no increase in a range of human infections are stretching enough to make a contribution to the vision of reducing the burden of infection.
Department of Health and Social Care; NHS England and NHS Improvement
Rec 3
Accepted
Work in Progress
The government should consider how the results of the new NHS antibiotic subscription model will be tracked, evaluated and made public, including any effects on the research and development of new drugs.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rec 4
Accepted
Work in Progress
The government should consider what the UK?s aquatic environment is currently contributing to rising AMR, particularly wastewater treatment and spills, and, as a result, whether new commitments or targets are needed in this area.
Cabinet Office
Rec 5
Response Pending
The government should consider how maximum beneficial impact can be achieved from the classification of AMR as a chronic risk and whether there is value in publishing the government?s full list of chronic risks so that universities, funding bodies, businesses and other institutions can better understand the public sector?s priorities for research and innovation.
Cabinet Office; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department of Health and Social Care; NHS England and NHS Improvement; UK Health Security Agency
Rec 6
Accepted
Implemented
The government should consider whether a national preparedness exercise with a significant AMR dimension should be carried out.