Part of 2. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:18 pm on 24 May 2016.
First Minister, you may agree with me, perhaps, as I say that the use, or indeed the overuse, of antibiotics is a responsibility for us all. As we know, the use of antibiotics happens in agriculture as well as being prescribed by GPs and used in our hospitals. Of course, in some European nations, you can now just buy antibiotics—you don’t even need a prescription in the first place. Of course, there are increased pressures on GPs, particularly in our practices, to be prescribing when, given that the common sore throat is going to be caused by a virus, an antibiotic isn’t the best treatment. It’s important that the public should be aware of that in addition to the GP. So, would you agree with me that raising awareness is important, but the use of antibiotics, or the misuse or overuse of antibiotics, is a responsibility for us all?