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New campaign in Wirral highlights how taking antibiotics when you don't need
them puts you and your family at risk!
PUBLIC Health England launches a major new campaign in Wirral to help:-
'Keep
Antibiotics Working.' The campaign warns people that taking antibiotics when
they are not needed puts them at risk of a more severe or longer infection, and
urges people to take their doctor's advice on antibiotics.
Antibiotics are essential to treat serious bacterial infections, such as
meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis, but they are frequently being used to treat
illnesses, such as coughs, earache and sore throats that can get better without
medication. Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you
to become resistant. That means that antibiotics may not work when you really
need them.
It is estimated that at least 5,000 deaths are caused every year in England
because antibiotics no longer work for some infections and this figure is set to
rise with experts predicting that in just over 30 years antibiotic resistance
will kill more people than cancer and diabetes combined.
The 'Keep Antibiotics Working' campaign urges residents in Wirral to
always trust their doctor, nurse or pharmacist's advice as to when they need
antibiotics and if they are prescribed, take antibiotics as directed and never
save them for later use or share them with others. The campaign also provides
effective self care advice to help individuals and their families feel better if
they are not prescribed antibiotics.
Dr Diane Atherton, Lead Primary Care GP for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and
Chair of Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group's AMR Group says:- "It is
important for people to understand that if they are feeling under the weather
and see their GP or a nurse, antibiotics may not be prescribed if they are not
effective for their condition, but they should expect to have a full discussion
about how to manage their symptoms. Without effective antibiotics, minor
infections could become deadly and many medical advances could be at risk;
surgery, chemotherapy and caesareans could become simply too dangerous. But
reducing inappropriate use of antibiotics can help us stay ahead of superbugs."
Cllr Chris Jones, Wirral's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health says:-
"I welcome the launch of the 'Keep Antibiotics Working' campaign. The
public has a critical role to play and can help by taking collective action.
Always take your healthcare professionals advice and remember that antibiotics
are not needed for everything."
For further information on antibiotics, their uses and the risk of resistance,
please search:- 'NHS Antibiotics' online.
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