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Can we really afford not to self care?

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Can we really afford not to self care?

One in five accident and emergency visits
are unnecessary and cost the NHS £290 million a year, according to new research commissioned by PAGB.

The research, conducted by IMS Health, shows that over 3.6 million visits to A&E a year are for people with minor ailments.
This is in addition to existing data showing that GPs manage over 57 million consultations a year for minor ailments at a cost of £2 billion to the NHS.

This data raises fresh concerns around how people seek treatment for minor ailments like coughs, flu and muscular pain, which could be safely and effectively managed at home or with the advice of a pharmacist, particularly as people with serious conditions are struggling to access the medical support they need. Evidence shows that this year there will be 67 million GP appointments that people will have to wait at least a week for, while A&E departments are in a critical state.

PAGB’s Manifesto for Self Care (launched today, March 31) outlines ways for the NHS to relieve pressures facing GPs and A&E departments. These include: implementing high profile national awareness campaigns to make people aware of when and how to self treat, providing consistent advice on where to access the right care, and through improving health literacy in children.

Matthew Speers, chief executive of PAGB, said:

“Self care is about empowering people to look after themselves and use the NHS in the most effective and efficient way.

“It is vital that the NHS raises awareness of the range of different services available to people and when to access them appropriately. Pharmacists are well placed to provide advice to people with minor conditions, who don’t need to visit the GP or A&E, thereby ensuring they receive the support they need, without diverting NHS resources from people who really need them.”

The financial cost of treating minor ailments in GP and A&E services is placing further strain on already stretched budgets. Evidence indicates that over the last five years treating minor conditions has cost the NHS more than £10 billion.

Matthew Speers continued: “In 2002 the Wanless Review warned politicians and health leaders that unless they acted to encourage more people to take control of their health, the NHS would face a rising burden of avoidable illness. Thirteen years later the NHS is facing a financial, demographic and workforce crisis. This cannot continue and that’s why we are calling for immediate action. Encouraging more people to self care appropriately will result in a healthier population, a stronger workforce and a more sustainable NHS.”

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