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Antimicrobial resistance in Primary Care – Parliamentary event

17 May 2019

The event was organised by the APPG for Dentistry and Oral Health, and co-hosted by the APPGs on Pharmacy and Antibiotics. Attendees included a Shadow Health Minister and a former Secretary of State for Health.

Susie Sanderson, BDA Health and Science Committee member and Leader of the Task Force on Antibiotics in Dentistry at the Council of European Dentists, addressed Parliamentarians. She noted that despite the progress that has already been made, a large proportion of antibiotics prescribed in dentistry could still be avoided through appropriately funded urgent-care slots and investment in oral health prevention measures, which would reduce the number of cases where antibiotics were needed. She also urged policymakers to act to reduce waiting lists for child hospital tooth extractions. Currently there are waits of up to a year, which means that children can receive two or three courses of antibiotics during that time.

The three APPGs will now detail the recommendations put forward at the session in a joint report, which will be presented to the Secretary of State for Health, the Department for Health and Social Care, and all other key stakeholders.

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