Can I get antibiotics at NHS walk in centre?

dizziblonde · 17 June 2012 at 11:48AM

Person_one wrote: »

Hopefully not any of the posters here, but advising stockpiling is not really a great idea.

But you see - when that zombie apocalypse strikes and those two paracetamol aren't cutting it...

LondonDiva · 17 June 2012 at 12:28PM

All GP voicemails will have details of the out of hours GP cover for when they are closed. Call your practice and you will get details of the GP service covering your area while they are closed.

samboette · 17 June 2012 at 3:25PM

Person_one wrote: »

Well clearly some people take them when they aren't prescribed, aren't needed, aren't the appropriate antibiotic for the infection if there even is an infection and don't follow the best practice guidelines for dosage and length of course. Hence the problems we're starting to see now.

Hopefully not any of the posters here, but advising stockpiling is not really a great idea.

You have heard of antibiotic resistance surely? You are aware that its a huge problem and a bit of a ticking timebomb?

Comments like this really get on my wick!

I am fully aware of Antibiotic resistant bacteria I had MRSA!

I have had numerous weeks off work because I have suffered the horrible effects of cellulitis because I was unable to get antibiotics. I had an episode so severe that I only was only given 48hrs to respond to antibiotics, fortunately I responded but it was too late for a a large chunk of tissue on my leg which had to be debrided over 3 surgeries in order to save my leg!

I'm sure I speak for the others on here that we don't take antibiotics or in fact "stockpile" them for fun. We have them on hand when needed and are not stupid to take them when we are fit and well.

Those who suffer frequent infections will know the symptoms and the quicker antibiotics are in the system the better. What would you rather have, people taking up hospital beds for days on end, leaving them at risk to further hospital acquired infections?

Anyway Zaksmum, I hope you are feeling better!

zaksmum · 17 June 2012 at 5:36PM

Person_one wrote: »

Well clearly some people take them when they aren't prescribed, aren't needed, aren't the appropriate antibiotic for the infection if there even is an infection and don't follow the best practice guidelines for dosage and length of course. Hence the problems we're starting to see now.

Hopefully not any of the posters here, but advising stockpiling is not really a great idea.

You have heard of antibiotic resistance surely? You are aware that its a huge problem and a bit of a ticking timebomb?

Of course I have! I can't imagine anybody taking antibiotics they don't need, and surely when they are taken the prescriber's instructions are followed.

Uncontrolled infection can have disastrous consequences and if antibiotics are needed, the sooner they are started the better.

LadyMorticia · 17 June 2012 at 6:11PM

How are you feeling now, OP? Did you manage to get any antibiotics?

Hope you're okay.

Person_one · 17 June 2012 at 7:52PM

zaksmum wrote: »

Of course I have! I can't imagine anybody taking antibiotics they don't need, and surely when they are taken the prescriber's instructions are followed.

People do, its a huge problem.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9147414/Resistance-to-antibiotics-could-bring-the-end-of-modern-medicine-as-we-know-it-WHO-claim.html

"The paper blamed the current situation largely on the misuse of antibiotics, which are not prescribed properly and used too frequently and for too long."

Brighton_belle · 17 June 2012 at 8:09PM

Person_one wrote: »

"The paper blamed the current situation largely on the misuse of antibiotics, which are not prescribed properly and used too frequently and for too long."

Isn't it also people who don't use them long enough too i.e. given a 7 day dose, but problem appears to have gone after 4, because they don' really trust modern drugs, so stop taking them, but of course it hasn't finished dealing with he underlying infection, just the surface evidence and it overcmes the inital antibiotics and comes back straight away, so then people need at least another 7 day dose and sometimes more to get rid of it.

Person_one · 17 June 2012 at 8:16PM

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Isn't it also people who don't use them long enough too i.e. given a 7 day dose, but problem appears to have gone after 4, because they don' really trust modern drugs, so stop taking them, but of course it hasn't finished dealing with he underlying infection, just the surface evidence and it overcmes the inital antibiotics and comes back straight away, so then people need at least another 7 day dose and sometimes more to get rid of it.

Yep, stopping early is bad too.

There's info here.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/ARC/Pages/AboutARC.aspx

http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/AntibioticAwareness/

I know I sound preachy but it really is a huge huge problem that could see us back in the dark ages in terms of healthcare. If you do need antibiotics, then of course you need them and should get them (A&E usually have most types in stock) but people shouldn't be deciding on their own or hoarding them to use without a prescription.

missprice · 17 June 2012 at 8:17PM

Well I learned summat today:)

never knew you could have a course of antibiotics on hand so to speak for when your ill.
I don't at the moment have many chest infections, but at one point I was having 2 or 3 a year and leaving it til the last minute to see doc, even though I knew one was on its way, and therefore being worse for longer

Well next time I see my very nice GP I shall be asking if I too can have a course spare, although last time I was ill it was pneumonia and oh god was I ever ill. but even then I left it till I was barely breathing to see the GP, I have this odd feeling that unless I am obviously ill he wont believe me thats why I leave it so late:)

Person_one · 17 June 2012 at 8:21PM

missprice wrote: »

Well I learned summat today:)

never knew you could have a course of antibiotics on hand so to speak for when your ill.
I don't at the moment have many chest infections, but at one point I was having 2 or 3 a year and leaving it til the last minute to see doc, even though I knew one was on its way, and therefore being worse for longer

Well next time I see my very nice GP I shall be asking if I too can have a course spare, although last time I was ill it was pneumonia and oh god was I ever ill. but even then I left it till I was barely breathing to see the GP, I have this odd feeling that unless I am obviously ill he wont believe me thats why I leave it so late:)

Please don't, just go to the GP or to a walk in centre or even to A&E if you think you need them. Doctors, pharmacists and nurse prescribers study for years in order to know how to use these drugs appropriately and even then lots of them get it wrong. We ordinary unqualified people shouldn't be making the decision.

(I have asthma too and get a chest infection most winters, I also have recurrent ear infections and had tonsillitis about 10 times as a teenager, but the long term prospects are much worse if resistance carries on at the pace its going!)

Can I get antibiotics at NHS walk in centre?

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