Thérèse Coffey has been branded ‘moronic’ by a Cambridge microbiology professor over her ‘nuts’ plans to let patients get antibiotics without seeing a GP which could increase the prevalence and dangers of drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA.
The Health Secretary has lobbied to allow chemists to prescribe antibiotics without a doctor’s diagnosis to help clear up GP waiting lists – similar to a scheme in Scotland.
The drugs will still not be available over the counter but will be available if a pharmacist thinks a patient may have certain conditions.
Cambridge University‘s Professor Stephen Baker, an expert in molecular microbiology and antimicrobial resistance, said that overuse of antibiotics would lead to higher chances of drug-resistant disease.
Read more: Thérèse Coffey’s ‘nuts’ plan for antibiotic prescription without GP okay makes drugs less effective
