MOST patients will be aware of the campaigns to cut unnecessary antibiotic prescribing.

Across the UK, antibiotic prescribing fell by 5.3% between 2014 and 2015 (a total of two million fewer prescriptions).For many people, though, not being issued a prescription for antibiotics can be worrying and frustrating.

Infections are largely caused by bacteria (treated with antibiotics) or viruses (treated with anti-virals).

The reason for limiting prescribing is linked to trying to control resistant bugs developing. Infections such as MRSA, EColi and TB all now have resistant strains which require patients to be admitted to hospital for long courses of treatment and sometimes ending up in ITU.

As GPs, our prescribing of antibiotics is monitored monthly and the surgery currently falls within acceptable levels for Shropshire – we prescribe neither too many nor too few antibiotics.

However, the key for patients is prevention, for both bacterial and viral illnesses. This includes getting medical advice early from health professionals (including pharmacies), taking medication as instructed, avoiding the risk of spreading infection to family members and friends through basic hygiene.

So, as we near the end of the summer our focus as surgeries moves to flu (viral illness) prevention.

The flu campaign this year includes offering jabs to all patients over 65, all pregnant women (very important for both the baby and Mum), all residents of care homes, everyone with a long-term condition and young children (aged 2, 3 and 4 at GP surgeries and years 1, 2 and 3 at schools). Details of specific groups can be found on our website.

It is extremely important that you do attend for a vaccination if you fall into any of these groups, both to protect you and those you come into contact with from contracting the illness.

The flu days are running on September 17 (Portcullis surgery) and September 24 (Station Drive surgery) for our patient populations, with catch-up clinics at the surgeries thereafter.