Eminent Clinicians Call on all Political Parties to End NHS Dependency Culture

57 Million GP Consultations for Minor Ailments Costs NHS GBP2 Billion Annually

LONDON, March 16, 2010 - A report published today, Self Care: An Ethical Imperative, presents the
results of research [1] that reveals the catastrophic impact of the public's
dependency on the NHS and that the NHS has become the victim of a demand-led
culture. The report, published by the Self Care Campaign advocacy group
states that seeing a GP for ailments that can be self-treated is estimated to
cost an astonishing GBP2bn every year. With the NHS Confederation forecasting
a shortfall of GBP20bn in NHS funding over the next five years, a shift in
behaviour around treating minor ailments could save the NHS GBP10bn during
that time, without any cuts to services whatsoever.

The report highlights that common disturbances to normal good health,
such as coughs and colds, are accounting for nearly one fifth of GP workload.
Of the 57 million consultations which involved a minor ailment, 51.4m are for
minor ailments alone, which is testament to an NHS addressing demand rather
than need - the founding principle of the service.

The Self Care Campaign manifesto is calling on all political parties to
support the campaign at an individual, local and national level and to:

    - allow people to be confident in their self care choices
    - enable healthcare professionals, especially the GP and practice
      nurse, to offer support in making people feel confident enough to use
      the NHS at the point of need, not demand
    - introduce a social marketing campaign to educate people to
      understand and manage minor ailments with the right information so that
      GPs' and practice nurses' time is freed up to look after more complex
      conditions
    - ensure children are educated through the national curriculum to
      understand health issues and how to use the NHS effectively and
      appropriately.

Dr Paul Stillman, a GP in Crawley, Sussex and a GP trainer with the
British Postgraduate Medical Federation, says: "There are real advantages for
everyone if we can encourage people to take greater control over the
management of their minor ailments. This represents a win-win for all - there
will be a reduction in the use of prescriptions and antibiotics, GPs can
spend more time on complex consultations and patients can treat themselves
without delay and the NHS will save billions that can be put to more
appropriate use/reinvested in the service. Self care does not mean no care -
it means giving people the tools to make an informed choice, which is why we
are issuing this important manifesto."

White paper www.selfcarecampaign.org/white-paper

Fact sheet www.selfcarecampaign.org/media-information

Advocacy group biographies www.selfcarecampaign.org/advocates

Notes to editors:

    The Top 10 minor ailments and number of consultations annually are:

    - Back pain                     8.4m
    - Dermatitis                    6.8m
    - Heartburn and indigestion     6.8m
    - Nasal congestion              5.3m
    - Constipation                  4.3m
    - Migraine                      2.7m
    - Cough                         2.6m
    - Acne                          2.4m
    - Sprains and strains           2.2m
    - Headache                      1.8m

The Self Care Campaign launched in March 2009 and is made up of
professionals from key organisations across primary care including the Royal
College of General Practitioners, NHS Alliance, National Association of
Primary Care and the Proprietary Association of Great
Britain. Its key objective is to bring an end to the culture of dependency on
the NHS for the treatment of mild to moderate minor ailments. Its advocacy
group includes:

    Peter Baker, Men's Health Forum

    Dr Ian Banks, Men's Health Forum

    Dr Michael Dixon OBE, NHS Alliance, GP mid Devon

    Dr Simon Fradd, GP, Nottingham

    Professor David Haslam CBE, GP, Cambridgeshire

    Sheila Kelly OBE, executive director, PAGB

    Dr John Chisholm CBE, GP, south London

    Gopa Mitra MBE, director of health policy and public affairs, PAGB

    Dr Raj Patel, NHS Alliance, Tameside and Glossop PCT and NHS North West

    Professor Mike Pringle CBE, University of Nottingham

    Sara Richards, RGN (registered general nurse), ex vice-chair, Practice
      Nurse Association

    Dr Peter Smith OBE, vice president of the National Association of Primary
      Care

    Douglas Smallwood, chief executive, Diabetes UK

    Professor Nigel Sparrow, GP, Nottinghamshire

    Dr Paul Stillman, GP, West Sussex

    Susan Summers, assistant director of quality assurance and self care,
      North West Strategic Health Authority

[1] Unless otherwise stated, statistics and research findings are from
Making the Case for the Self Care of Minor Ailments, TNS Healthcare, a Kantar
Health Company, August 2009, commissioned by the Proprietary Association
Great Britain

For further information: Sian Thomas at Salix Consulting on
+44(0)20-8675-4779 or email sian.thomas@salixconsulting.com

For further information: Sian Thomas at Salix Consulting on +44(0)20-8675-4779 or email sian.thomas at salixconsulting.com . Mobile: +44(0)7850-710459