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HoC Answers - 22.02.10
Minor Ailments
Mr. Boswell (Conservative, Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to encourage appropriate self-care by patients in treatment of minor ailments;
Mr. Boswell: (2) what steps his Department is taking to educate patients on circumstances where (a) self-care is appropriate in the treatment of a minor ailments and (b) it is appropriate to seek medical advice.
Mr. Mike O'Brien (Minister of State for Health Services): Community pharmacies are very accessible to patients and the public and have a key role to play in supporting self-care-providing advice and support to people requesting help with the treatment of minor ailments, illnesses and injuries. This includes advising on the use of over-the-counter treatments, where appropriate, and when medical advice should be sought. The White Paper, "Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths-delivering the future", aims to increase pharmacies contribution to supporting effective self-care and make better use of the range of skills and services available in pharmacies.
NHS Choices and NHS Direct also offer facilities, such as online symptom checkers and self-assessment tools, to help people understand where self-care is appropriate in the treatment of minor when they should seek advice from medical professionals.
Posted 22 February 2010