The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7488 p143
9 February 2008

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News summary

National campaign launched to reduce use of antibiotics

Patients should seek pharmacists’ advice about cough and cold remedies, rather than requesting antibiotics from their GP, the Government has stressed.

Launching a national campaign to reduce antibiotic use, chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson emphasised that all colds, and most coughs and sore throats, cannot be cured by antibiotics. “We must all play a part in conserving antibiotics as a valuable clinical resource,” he said.

The campaign “Get well soon — without antibiotics” will include advertisements in the national press and posters and leaflets in GP surgeries and pharmacies.

Posters and leaflets are available free of charge to pharmacies from Department of Health Publications Orderline, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH (tel 08701 555 4555, e-mail dh@prolog.uk.com, fax 01623 724524).