Leading infection specialty organisations across the UK have today launched a new report calling for urgent action to strengthen and modernise the UK’s infection-specialist workforce in response to rising health threats, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and future pandemic risks.
Infection Prevention and Management in the UK: The Infection-Specialist Workforce sets out a long-term plan to support the workforce and modernise infection services in line with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England and the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2025: Infections.
The report recommends reforms aligned with the NHS’s three strategic shifts: moving care from hospital to community, shifting focus from sickness to prevention, and accelerating the transition from analogue to digital systems. It outlines how infection expertise can be embedded across healthcare settings to improve patient outcomes, strengthen resilience, and increase cost-effectiveness throughout the UK health system.
Infectious diseases present an increasing challenge to healthcare systems across the UK. Alongside everyday infections becoming more resistant to existing antimicrobials, the country also faces the continuing threat of emerging pathogens and future global pandemics. The report argues that a strong and sustainable infection-specialist workforce is essential to protecting both patients and the public.
“Prevention is one of the most effective tools we have in healthcare, and infection prevention and control professionals are central to delivering safer care across every setting. This report highlights the urgent need to strengthen and modernise the infection-specialist workforce, so the UK is better prepared to tackle antimicrobial resistance, emerging infections and future health threats.”
Sarah Adibi, CEO, Healthcare Infection Society
The report highlights how infection specialists support clinical care, diagnostics, infection prevention and control (IPC), public health, and system leadership. The multidisciplinary workforce includes infectious disease physicians, clinical microbiologists, virologists, mycologists, parasitologists, infection-control specialists, specialist nurses, antimicrobial pharmacists, biomedical scientists, and clinical scientists.
It also warns that healthcare systems are under growing pressure from rising patient complexity, increased use of immunosuppressive therapies, an ageing population, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging infections. Workforce shortages across infection specialties are already widespread, with the Royal College of Pathologists warning of a “pending workforce crisis” unless action is taken.
The report calls for investment in workforce development, digital innovation, and integrated multidisciplinary working. It argues that embracing new technologies, improving data-sharing through networks, and supporting innovative team-based care will enable infection specialists to work more effectively and productively.
The recommendations aim to ensure patients can increasingly receive excellent care closer to home, reducing unnecessary hospital attendances and supporting more environmentally sustainable healthcare delivery.
The report launch will be accompanied by a workforce webinar on 3 June featuring a keynote address from Professor Christopher Whitty, Chief Medical Officer.