HEALTH bosses are trying to persuade patients not to demand antibiotics for illnesses that cannot be treated by them.

Worcestershire Health Authority is joining a campaign to raise awareness of what ailments can actually be helped by antibiotics, to put an end to over-prescribing. Prescribing antibiotics is not only costly, but people taking too many can become immune to their effects, and when they are seriously ill, the drugs will not be effective.

Over-prescribing has also been blamed for causing the emergence of drug-resistant strains such as MRSA, which can cause chaos in hospital wards.

Professor Brian McCloskey, Director of Public Health for the county, said it was essential patients were educated about antibiotics and their proper use.

"This kind of campaign is essential as, although Worcestershire doctors have a good record of not prescribing too many antibiotics, patients have an expectation to receive them," he said.

"One of our main problems we have is patients expecting antibiotics for illnesses like coughs and sore throats, which can't be treated with the drugs most of the time, and there's no point in taking them.

"Things like MRSA have developed as we have prescribed antibiotics unwisely in the past."

Worcestershire Health Authority spends £1.5m each year on antibiotics, and 300,000 prescriptions are written.

The number of antibiotic prescriptions has been cut by 20 per cent over the past six years, but officials believe more needs to be done.

Instead of visiting doctors, people suffering with winter ailments such as coughs, colds and flu are advised to go to their pharmacy to get treatment.

Chemist staff are able to recommend drugs that will make them more comfortable, such as paracetamol and cough medicines.

The scheme is part of the second phase of a nationwide campaign to cut the use of antibiotics which was prompted by the publication of two Government reports.

Posters and leaflets are being displayed in GP surgeries, and doctors are being given a "non-prescription" pad that gives advice to patients as to why they have not been given antibiotics.