The UK’s antimicrobial resistance response faces substantial barriers from the civil service’s structure, practices of governance, and churn [Comment]

Fady, Paul-Enguerrand ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8442-1966; Bennett, Natalie; Singer, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4705-6063. 2025 The UK’s antimicrobial resistance response faces substantial barriers from the civil service’s structure, practices of governance, and churn [Comment]. The Lancet Microbe, 101111. 3, pp. 10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101111

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101111

Abstract/Summary

We argue that the machinery of government and the current practices of the civil service are a hindrance to the British Government’s ability to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The UK’s civil service is occasionally called the Rolls Royce of public administrations,1 and it is ranked the best in the world.2,3 However, over a decade of austerity cuts, which have reduced resource departmental expenditure limits by more than 16% (and even more in non-priority departments), has undermined the capacity of the civil service and worsened outcomes.4 Although the UK civil service might be capable of addressing immediate day-to-day issues, its current mode of operation leaves the government vulnerable to more complex (or wicked) national challenges. This vulnerability is most evident in the case of the grand pandemic of AMR and drug-resistant infections.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101111
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Environmental Pressures and Responses (2025-)
ISSN:	2666-5247
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Health General > Science Policy
Date made live:	17 Mar 2025 14:14 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539096

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101111

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Environmental Pressures and Responses (2025-)

ISSN:

2666-5247

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

NORA Subject Terms:

Health
General > Science Policy