MPs and health experts have launched an inquiry into winter pressures on health services. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Care and Public Health inquiry aims to help healthcare professionals educate patients about health, in order to reduce the burden on primary and emergency health services, particularly during the winter.

It follows news showing that the total annual number of GP visits has grown by 40 million in five years. Pharmacy Voice, NHS England, Public Health England and the British Medical Association are among the organisations giving evidence on how to tackle the problem.

Referring to the success of recent self-care campaigns, including ‘Treat yourself better without antibiotics’, Rob Darracott, chief executive of Pharmacy Voice, said: “One of the challenges is that people don’t know how long a typical cough or cold will last and go to the GP too soon.” He added that “shifting just three to four per cent of (GP and A&E) workload over time would make a huge difference.”