Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason Candidozyma auris was added to schedule 2 of the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations in April 2025;and if he will publish any public health risk assessments informing that decision.

Candidozyma, formerly Candida, auris is an emerging multi-drug resistant fungal pathogen. Candidozyma auris is becoming more widespread globally, can result in serious infections in vulnerable individuals, and has been associated with outbreaks in healthcare settings that have resulted in substantial service disruption. The addition of candidozyma auris to the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations as a notifiable organism under Schedule 2 enables the UK Health Security Agency to more closely monitor this pathogen and inform public health action to limit its spread within the United Kingdom.

The Health Protection (Notification) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 Impact Assessment, a copy of which is attached, highlights that testing for candidozyma auris would be conducted within National Health Service and private laboratories. The burden on laboratories for additional testing is likely to be low, as testing is straightforward.