Unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions reduced in new trial
A trial involving over 1,500 GP practices found that writing to GPs about their antibiotics prescribing resulted in 73,000 fewer prescriptions (a 3.3% reduction) over six months. This equates to direct savings of over £92,000 in prescription costs.
This is part of the government’s plans to slow the growth of antimicrobial resistance. Increasing resistance to antibiotics and a lack of new drugs means there is a greater risk of infections that cannot be treated.
The trial was a collaboration between chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies, Public Health England, and the Behavioural Insights Team.
