Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics: campaign spokespeople quotes 1. Gopa Mitra, Director of Health Policy & Public Affairs, PAGB “The launch of Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics is a landmark campaign for the PAGB to encourage people with common winter ailments to self-­‐treat their symptoms and visit their local pharmacy for advice and treatment. Research shows that people are unaware of how long winter ailments should last, leading to unnecessary GP visits and antibiotic prescriptions. We want to encourage people to self-­‐treat, with the help of a pharmacist and thereby reduce pressure on the NHS.” 2. Robert Darracott, Chief Executive, Pharmacy Voice “We are proud to be launching the Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics campaign in conjunction with the PAGB. The community pharmacist is an important part of local healthcare provision in the UK. Pharmacists are key healthcare professionals and should be the first point of call for people with coughs and colds during the winter months. We are in a unique position to meet the needs of the public for advice, and medicines to help them look after themselves better, avoiding a GP appointment for these common winter conditions.” 3. Luke O’Shea, Head of Patient Participation, NHS England “At NHS England, we aim to ensure everyone in the country has greater control of their health and their well-­‐being to promote healthier lives and to deliver a high quality of health and care services. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics campaign will help tackle the issues of over-­‐
prescription of antibiotics for common viral infections and instead encourage people to visit their local pharmacist for advice and encourage self-­‐management thus reducing the pressures on GPs and A&E and ultimately reducing the cost of winter ailments for the NHS.” 4. Dr Michael Dixon, Chief Executive, NHS Alliance, Chair, College of Medicine “Antibiotic resistance is a real issue not only for us as individuals but for the whole of society. We know that overuse means reduced efficacy so it is clear that we are all careful not to use antibiotics when we don’t need them so that they work when we do. I am wholeheartedly behind the Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics campaign as it gets this message out to the whole population.” 5. Professor Mark Baker, Director of the Centre for Clinical Practice, NICE “Respiratory tract infections are infections of the throat, sinuses, airways or lungs and are responsible for 60% of antibiotic prescribing in general practice. We’re working with healthcare professionals to ensure they are aware of our guidance on upper respiratory tract infection treatment which outlines the normal duration of symptoms and so called “red flag” symptoms which are signs that medical advice in the form of a GP consultation are required. The launch of Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics complements our guidance and aims to promote pharmacy led self-­‐treatment.” 6. NHS Choices Spokesperson “The importance of self-­‐treatment is highlighted with the launch of Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics which encourages individuals to seek advice and provides people with choices in order for them to make decisions about their care with the help of their pharmacist, thereby reducing the use of antibiotics and the pressures on GPs during the winter period. We welcome the launch of this new campaign.” 7. Dr Rob Hicks (GP) “As we move into the winter months, many of us will develop cold and flu, coughs and sore throats, but because people are often unsure how long they can expect to experience their symptoms, many opt to visit their GP unnecessarily in search of antibiotics that are in fact ineffective for viral infections. Remembering that symptoms can persist, but also knowing the important warning signs for when it may be more serious is important. With colds and flu, the worst symptoms will be over in 4-­‐5 days but complete recovery can take up to 10 days and sometimes longer. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website, www.treatyourselfbetter.co.uk, offers detailed guidance on specific conditions and symptoms, including how long you may experience them, and important warning signs guidance to help you decide when it is appropriate to see your GP.” 8. Dr Peter Smith, Vice President, National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) “People who visit their GP for winter illnesses, such as colds, coughs sore throats and flu, are sometimes disappointed when we do not prescribe them antibiotics even when we all know they have little or no effect on these conditions. This is true whether it is a seasonal virus or a bacterial infection with coloured phlegm. Our immune systems are designed to deal with them whatever we do. These illnesses can make people feel very unwell and they will often look to someone for help, but for most people their GP will not be able to do anything for them that they can't do for themselves. They also run the risk of spreading their own illness or picking up additional infections themselves by coming to the GP surgery and sitting in the waiting room. If your GP then decides to ignore the evidence and give an antibiotic, it still won't work and will increase the chance that bugs will become resistant and the antibiotic won't work when it's really needed. A small number of patients, including people with chest conditions, poor immune systems and some older people may need antibiotics, but the rest of us should be learning to manage our illnesses at home until they get better by themselves. As a GP, I support the Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics campaign and recommend that people with symptoms of coughs, sore throats, colds or flu visit the symptom checker on the website (www.treatyourselfbetter.co.uk) or visit their local pharmacist. They are well-­‐equipped to offer advice about what you can do and can recommend over-­‐the-­‐counter treatment options.” 9. Raj Patel (Pharmacist) “Although there is no ‘cure’ for cold and flu, you can treat the symptoms with some practical self-­‐
help measures and over-­‐the-­‐counter medicines. Your local community pharmacist will be well-­‐
placed to offer support, medical advice and guidance. No appointment is necessary when visiting your local pharmacy, they have extended opening times and convenient high street locations. Before rushing to the GP, visit the symptom checker and warning guidance then seek support & treatments from your pharmacist to help manage the symptoms of colds and flu.” 10. Nick Kaye (Pharmacist) “As community pharmacists, we are in a position to be able to offer the public advice and over-­‐the-­‐
counter, non-­‐prescription medications for common winter ailments such as coughs, colds and flu. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics campaign encourages people to self-­‐treat with our help and I’m pleased to be lending my support.” 11. Neal Patel, Royal Pharmaceutical Society "When you, or people you care for, are unwell you want advice from a health professional you can trust, pharmacists are on hand to help. Pharmacists know antibiotics don't work for common viral illnesses such as colds and flu's and won't make them better any sooner. Pharmacists have five years of training and a great deal of experience in helping you know when a cold is a cold or when your symptoms need more investigation. The pharmacist is also perfectly placed to advise on common ailments you or family members may need help with this winter. Make the pharmacist your first point of call if you have a cough, flu or a cold to make sure you treat yourself better without antibiotics." 12. Professor John Watson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer "The increasing threat from antibiotic-­‐resistant infections is so serious that in 20 years' time we could be back to how it was in the 19th century when routine operations could be fatal as a result of everyday infections. The Chief Medical Officer’s call to action has definitely struck a chord. Through campaigns like Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics, I hope we can change the way people think about antibiotics and we are pressing for it to be much higher up the global political agenda. It is however important to remember that winter flu and its complications can kill -­‐ that's why it's important that those who are offered the flu vaccine take it up to protect themselves and others.”