9. Will the Minister make a statement about the number of antibiotic resistant infections recorded in the last available 12-month period? OAQ54185

Antibiotic-resistant infections are not currently recorded, but work to do so is under way as reduction in the numbers is an ambition of the jointly agreed new UK antimicrobial resistance strategy that all four nations of the UK have signed up to. The level of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials is monitored in Wales on an ongoing basis, and regular reports will be published.

Thank you, Minister. There's been a 44 per cent increase in syphilis in the last year and a 32 per cent increase in gonorrhoea. And what concerns me most about that, talking to sexual health experts, is that a significant proportion of the presenting infections are the antibiotic-resistant forms of those. I appreciate that you have accepted the sexual health review recommendations to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, and I just wondered how much that task is hampered by the level of antibiotic-resistant versions of this, because, obviously, in the past, this was something that people died of. With antibiotics, people are able to survive and continue to live normal lives. We are in danger of going back to the nineteenth century.

Yes, you're correct, and within the last two years for which we have figures, there's been a 79 per cent increase in syphilis and a 47 per cent increase in gonorrhoea. There is concern across the world, in particular when it comes to gonorrhoea, that there are infections that are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Now, we've not seen that strain within Wales yet. Chlamydia infections remain stable. The challenge still is about behaviour, things that we are in control of, and that's part of the challenge about the new sexual health strategy, about our engagement with people who are most at risk and how we have a conversation about education as opposed to resolving this at the treatment end. The chief medical officer has asked Public Health Wales to consider what more needs to be done to minimise the risk posed by these infections and a number of recommendations are being taken forward and they'll be considered at the next sexual health programme board, and I would, of course, make sure that, as there is more progress to update from that sexual health programme board, I'll provide a written statement to Members to make sure you're all sighted on improvement.

I think the World Health Organization has said that antibiotic resistance could be one of the major health challenges we face, as common infections once again become common killers if we don't get this right and there are fewer new drugs coming on board. One thing we could do is to encourage people, instead of going to the doctor in search of an antibiotic for a common cold or a sore throat or something, to first go and see their pharmacist, because that, probably, will lead to better treatment and will avoid the use of antibiotics when they're not appropriate.

I completely agree and it's part of our challenge: we're generally trying to persuade people that they don't need to go to the doctor and to come away with a set of pills to have a good service. Often, it is about persuading people there are different options, including self-care, and different ways to access healthcare as well. With the common ailments service that we've introduced, in just the first five months of this year, approximately 20,000 people have visited pharmacies across Wales as part of that service. Around 80 per cent of those people would otherwise have gone to see their GP, and, more than that, the pilot within Betsi Cadwaladr on the sore throat treat and test service is again a real opportunity to roll out exactly the sort of practice that you recognised. It goes back to the question earlier from Paul Davies about our community pharmacy services and building on them—sorry, it was Neil Hamilton's question, with a supplementary from your party colleague, but there is, again, general agreement that it's the right thing to do. There's much more gain to be made from doing it, and, actually, much better access for the public to healthcare services. 

Thank you, Minister.