to think that GPs play a part in this too?

[Oopsusernamealreadytaken]

Antibiotic resistance. It’s been all over my Facebook recently, today on the radio. Surely a GP can just say no and not prescribe them? Surely no person would want to take antibiotics if it genuinely wouldn’t help? Could we change the way things are done in the GP surgery? For example in some European countries they charge a small fee for swabs which can be quickly looked at whilst you wait?

Stop giving animals antibiotics as a prophylactic measure would be my first call.

I found this recent campaign pointless tbh for that exact reason. It’s not like we can buy antibiotics over the counter.

I understand some patients can be very insistent about getting antibiotics off their GP but the ball is in their court to only provide a prescription if they feel it’s needed.

My gp recently tried to prescribe me an antibiotic for something that obviously wasn’t infected.

@JanetLovesJason yes! This too!

You are absolutely correct and this campaign irritates me. Antibiotic resistance is not the fault of patients, who, as you say, only have them when prescribed by a GP or other medical professional. Good luck to anyone trying to demand a particular prescription, your GP will tell you where to go. Heard a government health spokesman on radio yesterday suggesting we all take up too much nhs time by being ill and we should take more responsibility for our own health. This is all part of the campaign to undermine the nhs so that bits can be sold off. So, feel guilty about "troubling the doctor". Minor ailments? £25 a pop at the local pharmacy for starters.

Antibiotic resistance is not the fault of patients, who, as you say, only have them when prescribed by a GP or other medical professional.

I haven’t seen the campaign but gps prescribing antibiotics unnecessarily is only part of it. Patients not finishing courses of antibiotics also contributes to antibiotic resistance.

GPs are very much a part of it but the public need to know too so they realise why they won't be prescribed them.

I've heard people telling other people symptoms to fake so the doctor doesn't 'fob them off' and they can get a prescription for antibiotics.

It helps the GPs enormously for people not to be turning up expecting an antibiotic for their cold.

Spending your whole day trying to deal with angry shouty people, who then leave negative reviews about your practice, waste practice time by making formal complaints just because you wouldn't give them an antibiotics - it stands to reason that some GPs are going to start to take the route of 'just get this horrible person out of my surgery in under 10 minutes'.

A general public info campaign is useful. My ILs used to think their GP was rubbish. When I asked a bit more, it turned out to be because their old, now retired GP, had used to give them antibiotics everytime they turned up and the new one did not. Info campaigns like this are helpful to change attitudes from people used to a historic way of doing things.

I get that the campaign is a positive thing but I'm currently on two different lots and feel worried and guilty each time I swallow! The song is playing in my head ...

What's been very helpful in my area is the development of clinical practice guidelines. The idea is to help providers identify when antibiotics are needed and when they aren't. For example, about 70% of childhood ear infections are viral. The guidelines for my area say that antibiotics should only be prescribed if the child looks very ill, they're under 2 years old, they've had ear pain for more than 2 days, they're in day care, they've had antibiotics in the past 3 months, or there's a risk for loss to follow up. (In terms of the latter, mind that it doesn't always mean the parents aren't reliable. Maybe they live in a remote area and don't have a vehicle and don't always have a dependable ride. I live in Canada and this is more common than you think.) We also have guidelines for identifying viral vs bacterial sore throats and viral vs bacterial sinus infections. A couple of years ago I developed a bad sinus infection after a cold. Being a nurse, I was familiar with the guidelines. I only went into the clinic when I was sure I met the requirements for it being a bacterial infection, and I was indeed prescribed antibiotics.

@agnurse We don’t often visit the GP, but if we did I’d be happy to pay a fee for swabbing if it meant the correct things were being treated.

Sounds like a great system you have there