8,000 GPS are warned they are over-prescribing antibiotics

MORE than 8,000 GPS have been warned they may be contributing to the rise of drug-resistant superbugs by prescribing too many antibiotics.

Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer, who has previously warned of a “post-antibiotic apocalypse”, has targeted family doctors in surgeries with the highest prescribing rates and those where use of the drugs is rising quickly.

In a letter to GPS, she described antimicrobial resistance, where antibiotics no longer work for some serious infections, as a “serious and growing threat to our health and economy”.

The number contacted in 2016-17 marks a 40 per cent increase compared with a similar exercise the previous year, as the Government attempts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, which is believed to cause 5,000 deaths in England each year.

GPS have made some progress in reducing their use of the drugs in recent years. However, last night medical leaders said a “toxic” climate of litigation was preventing them going any further.

More than 6,000 GPS, working in 1,414 surgeries, received a letter informing them their practice is in the top 20 per cent in the country for prescribing antibiotics, even if their rates have reduced. Meanwhile, a further 2,298 doctors in practices where antibiotic use has risen by 4 per cent or more have received a warning.

Public Health England said it hoped the letters “will respectfully support GPS to improve their antibiotic stewardship”, adding the exercise would contribute to a “significant reduction” in the population risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Andrew Green, of the British Medical Association, told the Pulse website: “It is important to realise that there may be very good reasons why practices have the prescribing rates that they do, but it is nevertheless important that practices are aware of any differences that exist.

However, Dr Zishan Syed, who represents GPS in west Kent, said: “GPS work in a toxic litigious climate. If a patient develops serious complications, it is almost certain that an expert witness will happily blame a GP in their report for not prescribing antibiotics which could potentially end that GP’S career.”