RESIDENTS in the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby area are being urged to pledge to responsibly use antibiotics.

As part of European Antibiotics Awareness Day on Tuesday (November 18), Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is encouraging members of the public and healthcare professionals to become Antibiotic Guardians.

The aim of the day is to increase understanding about how overusing antibiotics, which are important for treating bacterial infections, can significantly reduce their effectiveness and threaten the health of the person taking them.

The GP-led CCG says antibiotics are losing their effectiveness at an increasing rate as bacteria adapt and ?nd new ways to survive the effects of the medicines and become resistant.

It says this resistance to antibiotics is one of the most significant threats to the safety of patients in Europe.

Topcliffe GP Dr Charles Parker said while doctors and other clinicians had a role to play by not prescribing antibiotics inappropriately, the CCG was advising patients not to ask doctors for them and to consider alternatives.

He said: “Without effective antibiotics, many routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous.

"Setting broken bones, basic operations and even chemotherapy all rely on antibiotics that work.

"New antibiotics may not always be available to replace them, which obviously can cause problems.

“All colds and most coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses and generally these will get better on their own."

Residents are being encouraged to take a pledge at antibioticguardian.com