The Times has reported that nearly half of family doctors admit to prescribing antibiotics just to remove patients from their practice, regardless of whether they will actually benefit from them.

Rather than using a ‘one size fits all’ approach to deal with patients, RSPH urges primary care professionals to promote other ways of dealing with illness, in particular a focus on prevention, and to consider the potential long term effects to population health of over prescribing antibiotics.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH said: “There is a genuine risk that the over prescription of antibiotics for viruses like colds and sore throats will lead to a situation where diseases we were sure we’d beaten are no longer receptive to antibiotics, undermining the last century of gains for public health. Diseases such as tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and salmonellosis have already developed drug-resistant strains. 

“It is the responsibility of GPs, at the frontline of public health, to deliver sound and consistent advice on their patient’s condition. We would encourage GPs to take the time to provide patients with the facts surrounding their illness, explaining the true effectiveness of antibiotics on their condition.

"While this uses valuable time, which we know GPs have little of, it will help prevent problems related to drug resistance in the long term. We recommend GPs and healthcare professionals utilise every opportunity to engage in healthy conversations with patients to discuss how healthy behaviours and simple preventative measures such as hand washing, can protect individuals from a range of illnesses and preventable diseases. 

“Poor hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to transmit infection and raising awareness of these simple preventative measures is one way to avoid a crisis later down the line.”