Formal Minutes
Wednesday 2 July 2014
Members present:
Andrew Miller, in the Chair
| Mr David Heath
Stephen Metcalfe
Stephen Mosley
| | Pamela Nash
Graham Stringer
David Tredinnick
|
Draft Report (Ensuring access to working antimicrobials),
proposed by the Chair, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 9 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 10 read.
Amendment proposed, to insert on
page 11, para 9, line 9: "As patient choice is now at the
heart of the NHS, it is inevitable that patients will demand greater
use of complementary therapies. The Committee recommends that,
where this can reduce antibiotic usage, under clinical guidance,
this is to be welcomed.".—(David Tredinnick.)
Question, That the Amendment be made, put and negatived.
Paragraph 10 read.
Amendment proposed, to insert on
Page 11, para 9, line 9: "There is good evidence which suggests
that employing a range of therapies in an integrated way can reduce
demand for antibiotics. The Committee recommends that the Government
take steps to assess the effectiveness of a range of non-conventional
therapies, including considering evidence from organisations abroad,
such as the Consortium of Academic Centers (53 centres in North
America, including some of the most prestigious), to determine
their efficacy as alternatives to antibiotic usage.".—(David
Tredinnick.)
Question, That the Amendment be made, put and negatived.
Paragraphs 10 to 16 read and agreed to.
Paragraph—(David Tredinnick)—brought
up and read, as follows: "Traditional and complementary medicine
including herbal medicine and homeopathy is strongly associated
with self-care. Appropriate self-care is an important strategy
to reduce patient requests for antibiotics. With appropriate promotion
of their safe use and information and training for health care
professionals, such approaches can contribution to reducing inappropriate
use of antimicrobial agents and allow patients who prefer such
interventions a wider range of treatment options. The Committee
recommends that the Government should widen its strategy to raise
awareness of inappropriate antibiotic usage and provide guidance
on appropriate ways to self-care.".
Question put, That the paragraph be read a second
time.
Question negatived.
Paragraphs 17 to 47 read and agreed to.
Paragraph—(David Tredinnick)—brought
up and read, as follows: "We are aware of research into developing
evidence based alternatives to antibiotic usage in animals. We
note that the EU is funding research into alternatives to antibiotics
in animals, including herbal medicine and homeopathy.".
Question put, That the paragraph be read a second
time.
Question negatived.
Paragraphs 48 to 78 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 79 read.
Amendment proposed, page 50, para 76, line 7 before
"Professor Lewith" insert: "Dame Sally Davies acknowledged
that herbs and plants produce chemicals that have been used for
a long time in the treatment of patients, citing Artemisinin,
used for malaria, as the best drug for malaria, which comes from
a Chinese herb. She said that "the Chinese are putting a
lot of effort into herbal medicines, mentioning a very big institute
in Shanghai that is taking herbal medicines, looking for the active
products and isolating them using HPLC and modern science. They
were aware of Artemisinin before the Wellcome Trust picked it
up and developed it for malaria"."—(David Tredinnick.)
Question, That the Amendment be made, put and negatived.
Paragraphs 79 to 83 read and agreed to.
Annex and Summary agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report
be the First Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chair
make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That embargoed
copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the
provisions of Standing Order No. 134.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 9 July at 9.00 am
| 
