Pharmacies in six areas across the borough of Leeds are handing patients prescriptions in the red paper bags throughout April, campaign group Seriously said.

Seriously is funded by Leeds clinical commissioning group (CCG) with additional support from Leeds City Council, Seriously told C+D last month (March 28).

The red bag initiative is the latest in the group’s ‘Seriously Resistant’ campaign to educate people on the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, it said. Its efforts have so far attracted a total of 10,000 pledges from patients to help prevent antibiotic resistance, the group added.

Darren De Souza, Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire public health and engagement lead, told C+D that pharmacies are “very well placed to advise people on the best way to use antibiotic medicines and inform people about antimicrobial resistance”.

The red paper bags – which are the same size as regular prescription bags – bear Seriously’s message: “Even if you start to feel better after a few days, continue taking antibiotics.”

The bags should prompt patients to start a conversation with their pharmacist about taking antibiotics, Seriously said.

Feedback from patients and other healthcare professionals has been “very positive” so far, it added.

Seriously spokesperson Becky Dam said in a statement: “Switching regular prescription bags for standout red ones highlights the severity of this threat to the future of healthcare.”

Leeds CCG chief executive Philomena Corrigan said: “It is really important we take action now so that we can ensure antibiotics continue to work when we really need them.”

The Leeds areas which were identified as having “high prescribing” rates and are taking part in the scheme are:

• Gipton and Harehills
• Bramley and Stanningley
• Garforth and Kippax
• Wetherby
• Hyde Park and Woodhouse
• Seacroft and Killingbeck.

Image credits: Seriously

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