Greater Huddersfield CCG and partners praised for their work around antibiotic awareness

NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG, in conjunction with Calderdale CCG, North Kirklees CCG, Wakefield CCG, Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire and the Infection Control Team for Kirklees and Wakefield, won the ‘Collaborative Stewardship’ award at the first ever Antibiotic Guardian Awards held in Birmingham on 12 May.

The group’s collaborative work to raise awareness of the dangers of the overuse of antibiotics was one of four nominations shortlisted for the awards which recognise achievement in tackling resistance to antibiotics. Its awareness campaign was judged as the winner by a panel of senior leaders working within the fields of health.

Antibiotics are essential medicines for treating bacterial infections in humans and animals, but they are increasingly losing their effectiveness. Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antibiotic so that the antibiotic no longer works. The more you use an antibiotic, the more bacteria become resistant to it.

Dr Steve Ollerton, Clinical Leader of NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG and local GP said:

“I hope that the success of this joint working across organisations will lead to even more awareness of this campaign and encourage more people to do their part to help reduce antibiotic resistance. It is important to use antibiotics in the right way – the right dose, at the right time for the right duration.”

Healthcare professionals and members of the public across Greater Huddersfield and North Kirklees have been signing up to support the campaign with both CCGs having some of the highest number of antibiotic guardians in England. You can sign up to become an ‘Antibiotic Guardian’ by choosing a simple pledge at http://antibioticguardian.com/