Antibiotic prescriptions in England has fallen in 'fantastic result' for GPs
THE number of antibiotics being prescribed to patients by GPs in England has fallen, latest figures show.
The number of antibiotics being prescribed to patients by GPs in England has fallen
According to NHS Improvement, prescriptions for all types of the drug were down by more than 2.6 million, compared to last year, to around 34 million in 2015-16.
This is a fantastic result achieved in just one year
Heralding the drop as a "fantastic result" the organisation says the figures show that doctors are being careful not to over-prescribe antibiotics, the BBC reports.
It is part of a wider drive to stop harmful infections developing resistance to antibiotics.
Prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics fell by 16 per cent, from 3.9 million prescriptions in 2014-15 to 3.3 million the following year.
The Dangers of Antibiotics
Prescriptions for all types of the drug were down by more than 2.6 million
The figures show that doctors are being careful not to over-prescribe antibiotics
It is part of a wider drive to stop harmful infections developing resistance to antibiotics
Dr Mike Durkin, from NHS Improvement, said: "This (is a) fantastic result achieved in just one year."
Adding that too many people suffer and lose their lives due to antibiotic-resistant infections, he continued: "At a time when the NHS has advanced in many areas of patient care, science and technology, we must work to prevent healthcare going backwards to a time where antibiotics are no longer fighting infections.
"This is why efforts in the NHS to reduce the overprescribing of antibiotics are crucial, and these latest figures are a significant step forward in this fight."