News report headlining today on the BBC News website.
Whereas it is a given that bugs are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics, I seriously doubt the figures that are being quoted regarding the number of "inappropriate" prescriptions from GPs.
"The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's Prof Mark Baker said 10 million prescriptions a year in England were inappropriate."
He offers no evidence for these large numbers at all, and also says later in the report:
"..... 97% of patients who asked for antibiotics ended up getting them, often by identifying a "soft-touch" doctor."
All very well but then he concludes by saying:
"Prof Mark Baker, director of the organisation's centre for clinical practice, said: "We are proposing that evidence is collected so the finger can be pointed at people who are a soft touch."
So the inference from that last statement is that evidence has not yet been collected, so how can he make all his previous statements, and be believed.
No doubt, there is a huge problem, but these kind of unsubstantiated statements leading to calls for GPs to be punished, are not helpful.
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I also worry a bit that NICE's raison d'etre is to keep down costs for the NHS, but do they always do this in the best interests of us, the patients, rather than for the government of the day.
Whereas it is a given that bugs are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics, I seriously doubt the figures that are being quoted regarding the number of "inappropriate" prescriptions from GPs.
"The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's Prof Mark Baker said 10 million prescriptions a year in England were inappropriate."
He offers no evidence for these large numbers at all, and also says later in the report:
"..... 97% of patients who asked for antibiotics ended up getting them, often by identifying a "soft-touch" doctor."
All very well but then he concludes by saying:
"Prof Mark Baker, director of the organisation's centre for clinical practice, said: "We are proposing that evidence is collected so the finger can be pointed at people who are a soft touch."
So the inference from that last statement is that evidence has not yet been collected, so how can he make all his previous statements, and be believed.
No doubt, there is a huge problem, but these kind of unsubstantiated statements leading to calls for GPs to be punished, are not helpful.
To view the link you have to Register or Login
I also worry a bit that NICE's raison d'etre is to keep down costs for the NHS, but do they always do this in the best interests of us, the patients, rather than for the government of the day.
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