One in five visits to GPs "unnecessary"

Almost one in five patient visits to surgeries are for non-serious ailments, according to the Self-Care Campaign, which says non-essential appointments are costing the NHS 2 billion pounds a year.

The group believes that if people can be educated to manage their health, the NHS can save up to half of its projected 20 billion pound shortfall expected over the next five years.

But patients' representatives attacked the report for "blaming the customer."

The Self-Care Campaign report says: "Our research reveals the catastrophic impact of the public's dependency on the NHS. The NHS has become the victim of a demand-led culture.

"The report highlights that common disturbances to normal good health, such as coughs and colds, are accounting for nearly one fifth of GP workload."

The report was funded by the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, which represents manufacturers of over-the-counter medicines.

Both the doctors' group, the British Medical Association, and the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) back the report's findings.

"We need to look at ways of encouraging a change in attitude towards the treatment of minor illnesses so that health care and services are properly directed at those most in need," said RCGP president Professor Steve Field.

Dr Paul Stillman, a GP in Crawley, Sussex, also supported the survey's findings but said its authors were not labelling members of the public malingerers.

"There are real advantages for everyone if we can encourage people to take greater control of the management of their minor ailments. Self care does not mean no care. It means giving people the tools to make an informed choice," he said.

The Patients Association disagreed.

"Of course patients should be responsible about their health services, but so should every clinician being paid from the public purse," said a spokeswoman.

"Every primary care contractor has a way to go on 'joining up' the NHS for their patients before they start blaming the customer," she added.

The report has called on the government to fund a social marketing campaign to educate the public on how to "understand and manage minor ailments."

Its authors have also called on schools to educate children on the importance of self-care.

(Editing by Steve Addison)