Where now for infection services in the NHS? How lessons from the pandemic should drive long-overdue integration of microbiology and infectious diseases.

ABSTRACT

In its first 2 decades, the NHS witnessed the near eradication of life-threatening community-acquired infections. However, medical advances have created different challenges (such as antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections) against a background of an increasingly ageing population. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a lack of parity with regards to provision of NHS 'infection services' (infectious diseases, microbiology and virology) across the UK, which urgently needs to be addressed. We recommend a fundamental review of NHS infection service provision divided into four key areas. Firstly, there should be a consideration of a single multidisciplinary specialty of infection medicine removing barriers to training and service delivery. Secondly, streamline infection training via a single pathway through to certificate of completion of training, encompassing all aspects of infection service provision, for example, infection diagnostics, clinical care (including inpatient, outpatient and community based care), and infection prevention and control. There should be flexibility within the training curriculum to facilitate combined training with general internal medicine (GIM) as well as out of programme activities. Innovative ways of providing clinical experience should be considered, acknowledging the roles that medical microbiologists working closely with GIM colleagues in district general hospitals can play in managing patients with infections. Thirdly, formally commission a national network of specialised infectious diseases units with the creation of service standards. This can facilitate future pandemic resilience using a hub-and-spoke model utilising local infection expertise. Lastly, standardise the NHS framework to lead and coordinate development of integrated infection services at the local level.