£2bn lost on trips to the GP for coughs and colds

Minor health problems make up almost a fifth of appointments
Bo Wilson12 April 2012

People who visit GPs unnecessarily for common ailments such as coughs and colds are costing the NHS £2 billion, health professionals warn today.

The "worried well" are having a "catastrophic effect" on the health service, it was claimed.

Minor health problems make up almost a fifth of appointments, according to a group of experts which includes Professor David Haslam, former chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance.

The group want to educate people to manage ailments such as back pain, indigestion and headaches so that the time of GPs and practice nurses is "freed to look after more complex conditions". They are launching a Self Care Campaign, calling on people to use the NHS at the "point of need, not demand".

In a letter to The Times they said: "New research reveals the catastrophic impact of this dependency on the NHS and how the NHS has become the victim of a demand-led culture.

"Seeing a GP for ailments that can be self-treated is estimated to cost an astonishing £2 billion every year. A shift in behaviour around treating minor ailments could save the NHS this money without any cuts to services."

Nearly half the 51.4 million consultations were generated by people aged between 16 and 59, the group's research has suggested. Back pain was the most common reason, prompting 8.4 million sessions, with other problems consulted on including acne, constipation and migraines.

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