Professor Tom Fahey:

To add to that, there are strategies that can help patients and reduce the need to take antibiotics, such as negotiating with patients. One can give a patient what is known as a delayed prescription. One can give somebody a prescription, but inform him or her how long the illness will last, leave the decision to take medication with the patient and give him or her appropriate safety netting advice on what to do. All the evidence shows that only 15% of people use the prescriptions but it also de-medalicalises them so that the next time their child or they themselves get an infectious-like disease, they manage it appropriately without seeking antibiotics or help from their GPs.