Our CEO Jonathan Pearce responds to PM’s announcement that Pharmacists are to prescribe antibiotics

“Further to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement, Antibiotic Research UK welcomes the news that pharmacists will be able to offer prescriptions for some conditions, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), without GP sign-off. However, it’s important to re-highlight that antibiotics should only be prescribed where they are necessary, and that everyone in primary care should have access to the information, assessment and diagnostic tools they need to prescribe the right medicines.

This is particularly important for UTIs. Without additional resources and access to patient health records and better diagnostic processes, it could be hard for pharmacists to distinguish between uncomplicated UTIs and the more complex, recurrent versions, which comprise the majority of the cases that our Patient Support Service helps with.

Major drivers of antibiotic resistance include inappropriate use (for viral infections, for example), over-use, and even under-use of antibiotics in cases where they are needed.

The threshold for prescribing antibiotics has already reduced due to patient access to telephone and online consultations, including from private online providers, while antibiotics can also be obtained without a prescription online and over-the-counter in some EU countries. Rather than increasing the threshold, pharmacists should be supported to run trialled and tested stewardship schemes, supported with robust diagnostic tests. Patients must receive the most appropriate treatment, which will often not be antibiotics.
As this policy is taken forward we call on the UK Government to involve the whole community, including scientists and clinicians working in this field. It is vital that we also communicate clearly to the public at large what sensible and effective antibiotic usage looks like. We must not create an expectation of “on tap” or “over the counter” antibiotics.”

Find further information on antibiotic resistance and guidance on what you can do to help.