The Self-Care Census 2024, published today (July 24) by PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, shows that millions of consumers are still using GPs and presenting at A&E for minor ailments, which they could treat easily and more quickly with over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.
According to the report, only 78% of adults think of self-care as their first option, with those in the 65-years plus bracket being more likely to consult a pharmacist first; almost a quarter (23%) of those aged between 25 and 34 admit they would try to get a GP appointment for a self-treatable condition compared to just 9% of those aged 65 or over. One in 13 people (8%) admit that A&E is their first choice of healthcare for conditions they could treat themselves.
Michelle Riddalls, CEO at PAGB says: “This automatic-pilot reliance on primary care, particularly among younger consumers, is worrying and it shows there is still a lot of work to be done around educating consumers on the benefits of self-care.
“Utilising the advice and expertise available from community pharmacies, as well as the wealth of online support and guidance from the NHS and consumer healthcare brands, not only enables consumers to take more control of their health and wellbeing, it also relieves pressure on the health service.”
She adds: “Self-care doesn’t just make good sense, it’s integral to building a sustainable healthcare system for the future. As a report by the analysts Frontier Economics calculates, better use of self-care could save the NHS at least £1.7 billion a year in avoidable appointments and prescription costs.”
Drain On Resources
The independent analysts estimate that self-treatable conditions account for at least 25 million GP appointments and five million trips to A&E every year, and given the lack of confidence to self-treat among younger consumers, this unnecessary drain on NHS resources is likely to rise.
On the plus side, there is evidence that the additional training to upskill surgery staff, so they are able to prioritise patients who need GP care and redirect those with minor ailments to other healthcare professionals such as pharmacists, is working. This latest PAGB report shows that 32% of patients were referred to a pharmacist by their GP practice or NHS 111.
Needless A&E Attendances
Threadworm is the self-treatable condition that has prompted the most adults who have experienced it to visit A&E, with 14% going to a hospital emergency department instead of buying a simple and effective OTC treatment. This was followed by sprains and strains (8%), ulcers (8%), thrush (7%), fever (6%), UTI (5%), acne (5%), ear infection (5%), cuts and open wounds (4%) and conjunctivitis (4%).
In the majority of cases, consumers would have received treatment and symptom relief far more swiftly if they had sought advice from a pharmacist rather than waiting for a GP appointment or attending A&E. However, the PAGB data shows that almost half (46%) of the consumers surveyed were unaware of the Pharmacy First scheme.
Mark Burdon, a pharmacist and advisor to PAGB adds: “Pharmacists are often under-utilised as highly trained healthcare professionals, but they are an important pillar in the healthcare system, helping to protect NHS resources, as we can see by the number of patients that are being directed to our services.
“Pharmacists are also well equipped to spot any red-flag symptoms which require further investigation, and if someone needs urgent care, we can alert GP surgeries so they can be fast-tracked through the practice triage system.”
Somewhat ironically, consumers are alert to the pressures on primary care services, with more than three quarters of those surveyed (77%) for PAGB’s census agreeing that people should take more responsibility for their own health to ease the burden on the NHS.
Consumers are also keen to see improved access to prescription medicines with 74% wanting to see more medicines switched from prescription-only so they can be provided by a pharmacist — a policy which has been championed by the PAGB.
Michelle Riddalls concludes: “Greater availability of over-the-counter medicines means fewer GP visits, A&E interactions and the potential to prevent self-treatable conditions worsening with early intervention through self-care. For every 5% of total NHS prescribing and spending that could be switched to over-the-counter medicines, the NHS could save £1.4 billion.”
