Southfield

Medical Practice

  • COVID
    • Covid-19 Vaccination Status Certificate
    • NHS Lothian Vaccination programme
    • No COVID-19 symptoms free rapid testing
  • Clinics & Services
    • Clinics
    • Appointments with the Doctors
    • Help with Your GP Appointment
    • Repeat Prescription Requests
    • Home Visits
    • Out of Hours Emergency
    • Postnatal Health & Wellbeing
    • Results of Tests
    • Sickline Advice
    • NHS Pharmacy First
    • Blood Tests
    • Antibiotic Awareness
    • Sickness Certificates
    • Vaccination Information
  • The Practice
    • Registering with the Practice
    • Pharmacy Team
    • Our Team
    • Community Team
    • Community Link Worker
    • Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
    • Entitlement to NHS Treatment
    • Practice Policies
      • Access your Health Records
      • Clinical Governance
      • Clinical Research
      • Chaperones
      • Complaints
      • Confidentiality
      • Consent Protocol
      • Data Protection Notice
      • Disability Access
      • Emergency Summary Care Records
      • Equality and Diversity
      • Freedom of Information
      • Infection Control Statement
      • NHS Patient Rights
      • Patient Advice and Support Service (PASS)
      • Privacy Policy
      • Sharing Your Information with Others
      • Your Rights and Responsibilities
      • Violent and Abusive Patients
      • Website Terms and Conditions
      • Cookie Policy
  • Online Access
    • Simple Repeat Prescription Request
    • Sick/Fit Note
    • Cancel an Appointment
    • Update your Personal Details Forms
      • Change of Contact Details Form
      • Register as a Carer Form
      • Summary Care Record Opt-out Form
      • Communication Consent Form
    • Health A-Z
  • Contact
    • Telephone Numbers
    • Send a Message
    • Location
  • News
  • Home

Antibiotic Awareness

Why should antibiotics not be used to treat coughs and colds?

All colds and most coughs and sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections.

How should I treat my cold?

The best way to treat most colds, coughs or sore throats is to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

Colds can last about two weeks and may end with a cough that brings up phlegm. There are many over-the-counter remedies to ease the symptoms, for example paracetamol. Ask your pharmacist for advice. If the cold lasts more than three weeks, or you become breathless or have chest pains, or if you already have a chest complaint, see your GP.

But what about my children?

They’re always getting coughs and colds.

It is common for children to get coughs and colds, especially when they go to school and mix with other children. Ask your pharmacist for advice. If the symptoms persist and you are concerned, see your GP, but do not expect to be prescribed antibiotics.

What is antibiotic resistance?

Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antibiotic. They become antibiotic resistant, which means that the antibiotic no longer kills the bacteria.

The more we use an antibiotic, the more likely it is that bacteria will become resistant to it. Some bacteria that cause infections in hospitals, such as MRSA, are resistant to several antibiotics.

Why can’t other antibiotics be used instead?

Other antibiotics can be used, but they may not be as effective and they may have more side effects. Eventually, the bacteria will become resistant to them too.

Only two new types of antibiotics have been found in the past 30 years and there is no guarantee that new ones will be discovered.

How can antibiotic resistance be avoided?

By using antibiotics carefully, we can slow down the development of resistance. It is not possible to stop it completely, but slowing it down stops resistance spreading and buys some time to develop new types of antibiotics.

What can I do about antibiotic resistance?

You should only use antibiotics when it is appropriate to do so. We now know that most coughs and colds get better just as quickly without antibiotics.

When antibiotics are prescribed, the complete course should be taken to get rid of the bacteria completely. If the course is not completed, some bacteria may be left to develop resistance.

So when will I be prescribed antibiotics?

Your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics when you need them, for example, for a kidney infection or pneumonia. Antibiotics may be life-saving for infections such as meningitis. By using them only when necessary, they are more likely to work when we need them in future.

For further advice please refer to the NHS Scotland guide Treating your Infection

News & Announcements

Don’t let measles spoil your plans

Cases of measles are on the rise. Check you’ve been fully vaccinated against it. Measles In some … [Read More]

Healthcare for overseas students

If you are coming to Scotland to study full-time, and you live in Scotland lawfully, you can get … [Read More]

Are you currently on an NHS patient waiting list?

Confirming your place on the NHS Scotland waiting List NHS Scotland is using a new text message … [Read More]

Surgery abroad without NHS referral

NHS Scotland does not recommend choosing to pay to travel abroad for surgery as part of a packaged … [Read More]

  • Clinics & Services
  • Clinics
  • Appointments with the Doctors
  • Help with Your GP Appointment
  • Repeat Prescription Requests
  • Home Visits
  • Out of Hours Emergency
  • Postnatal Health & Wellbeing
  • Results of Tests
  • Sickline Advice
  • NHS Pharmacy First
  • Blood Tests
  • Antibiotic Awareness
  • Sickness Certificates
  • Vaccination Information

NHS Inform

Quit Your Way with Our Support

nhs24

Southfield Medical Practice
132 Mountcastle Drive South,
Edinburgh
EH15 3LL

Contact

Tel: 0131 549 7340
Fax: 0131 549 7365

Surgery Hours

Monday
08:00 am — 06:00 pm
Tuesday
08:00 am — 06:00 pm
Wednesday
08:00 am — 06:00 pm
Thursday
08:00 am — 06:00 pm
Friday
08:00 am — 06:00 pm

Designed by GenPra | Websites for GP Practices.

Administrator Log in