Oral Answers to Questions

Lisa Cameron Excerpts

Tuesday 23rd October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Steve Brine]

I will look at what can be added to the Matt Hancock app—there is always room for more.

As luck would have it, today Public Health England has launched its latest “Keep Antibiotics Working” national public awareness campaign, which aims to educate the public about the risks of AMR and urges them always to take the advice of their healthcare professionals on antibiotics and, when necessary, to challenge them.

[Dr Lisa Cameron (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow) (SNP)]

AMR poses a grave threat to health. Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, told our Health and Social Care Committee inquiry that if action is not taken to address this

“growing threat, modern medicine will be lost.”

Will the Secretary of State and Ministers heed that warning and ensure that AMR is prioritised?

[Steve Brine]

Absolutely. The UK is a global leader in tackling AMR and we are currently working on the refresh of our strategy. I was at the G20 earlier this month, where Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, showed world leadership and led an exercise with world leaders to strengthen understanding by showing how developed countries would tackle an outbreak.