Minister Pledges To Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

Ahead of Antibiotic Awareness Day tomorrow [18 November], Minister for Social Services and Public Health Rebecca Evans has pledged her support to the fight against antimicrobial resistance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Minister has become an Antibiotic Guardian – a UK-wide campaign which aims to encourage everybody, from the public to people working in animal and human healthcare, to make better use of these vital medicines. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Through cutting the use of unnecessary antibiotics, we can help stop resistant bacteria from developing and help keep antibiotics effective for the use of future generations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, visited University Hospital Llandough to sign the pledge and hear about the good work going on in the NHS in Wales to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Speaking at the event the Minister said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global public health. Without effective antibiotics many routine treatments will become increasingly risky. Setting broken bones, basic operations, even chemotherapy all rely on access to antibiotics to fight off any infections. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We often hear about what could happen if these essential medicines become ineffective, but not about what actions individuals can take to help. This is exactly what the Antibiotic Guardian campaign is about. By each of us making just one pledge, whether that is not expecting an antibiotic for minor ailments, taking up the offer of a free flu jab, or ensuring the responsible use of antibiotics, we can fight resistance together. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Unless we act to tackle this issue now, it will only get worse. The Welsh Government’s Antimicrobial Resistance Delivery Plan sets out clearly what actions are being taken by NHS Wales and its partners to tackle antimicrobial resistance.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Graham Shortland, Medical Director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) and Chairman of the All Wales Antimicrobial Resistance Implementation Group said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Welsh Government’s Delivery Plan is an important initiative supported by all NHS organisations in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Cardiff and Vale UHB has developed its own action plan taking this forward. The results of this are already showing as the health board has the lowest prescribing rates of antibiotics in the primary care setting in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is encouraging to see such great steps being taken to ensure that antibiotics are protected for use both now and for future generations both locally and across Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​