Pharmacists receive patient requests for antibiotics for minor ailments such as colds at least once a day, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has said.
The organisation, which represents 6,000 independent community pharmacies, told the PA news agency that workers receive demands for the drugs even if they are not needed, while some patients also stockpile them for holidays.
The NPA has also received reports from pharmacists of half-used courses of antibiotics being posted on local social media groups.
The organisation polled around 400 pharmacists and found 79% refuse requests for antibiotics from patients for minor things at least once a day.
Ailments such as coughs and colds can often be viral infections which will clear up without the use of antibiotics.
Some 77% of those surveyed also said they felt demand for…