Whether you call it campaigning, lobbying, or advocating, our Society is committed to bringing about positive and sustainable change by engaging with politicians, civil servants, and journalists.

Like the first principle of open justice, effective advocacy must not only be done; it must also be seen to be done. This principle also underpins the culture of transparency – which is essential for learning, improving, and making each other accountable for the actions we take. Engaging with policymakers and the media, then, is the best chance we have of raising our work to a level of consciousness that is hard for decision-makers to ignore.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Antibiotics

One of the chief means by which we engage decision-makers is through the APPG on Antibiotics, which we administer.
Details of the Group’s meetings (past and upcoming), members, and reports, can be found on its website.

APPGs are informal cross-party groups. They are run by and for Members of the Commons and Lords, though many choose to involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their activities. They provide a means by which Parliamentarians can work with experts to set the policy agenda, which is normally dictated by the front benches and in particular, the Government’s legislative priorities.

Public Consultations and Parliamentary Questions

Public consultations are part of a regulatory process by which the public’s input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are to improve the efficiency, transparency and public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies. As the title would suggest, anyone can respond. You can search all UK Government consultations by keywords, publication type, policy area, department, document status, location, and publication date.

Our Society regularly responds to consultations and Select Committee inquiries – sometimes in collaboration with others. [We can add a link later]

We also work with the Members of our APPG to raise questions in the Commons and the Lords. Anyone can search Parliament’s publications and records. This portal includes open access to Hansard, which is the edited verbatim report of proceedings in both Houses. You can find out who said what and when, by searching these pages.

Stop Superbugs

Our global health initiative Stop Superbugs aims to create a “coalition of the willing” focused on regulation, enforcement, global funding, and the value of human capital. It will be powered by a series of micro-campaigns created and run by Stop Superbugs “circles” all over the world. This initiative is in its infancy but, inspired by the work of other campaigners, we see its main objectives as providing:

A brand under which almost anyone can operate
A clear narrative built on basic science
Core principles on effective (political and public) engagement
Free resources
High-level coordination, and stories that bring the impact of drug-resistant infection to life and call us to action.

To register your interest, visit the website and fill in the form.

Dr Nicholas Brown – Consultant Medical Microbiologist, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge – is the Society’s Director of Public and Professional Engagement.
He is supported by the Society’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Michael Corley.
For more information, contact [email protected].