Too many nurseries are treating infective conjunctivitis in infants as a medical crisis, overwhelming local GP surgeries, according to a new analysis.
Some 160,000 appointments annually are because nursery schools do not follow guidance – and many require evidence that a child has received antibiotics.
The Royal College of GPs cites a recent survey which found that 49.4% of nursery schools in Great Britain will not let a child back unless they have received antibiotics from a GP.
And 86.7% barred infected children from attending.
The college says national guidance from Public Health England is that treatment is only needed in severe cases.
It is calling on schools’ regulator Ofsted to ensure that nursery schools follow the correct clinical guidance.
College chair Professor Maureen Baker said: “We’re sure that nurseries and schools mean well by sending children home, or requiring them to take antibiotics, as a way of trying to contain cases of conjunctivitis. But they need to be aware of the huge impact this is having on GP workload and the amount of appointments we can offer, as well as on working families and wider society.
“GP practices are being swamped with requests for appointments and antibiotics to treat minor conditions, including conjunctivitis, and these cases are clogging up the system, which leads to longer waiting times for patients whose needs might be more urgent.
“Infective conjunctivitis is an unpleasant condition but antibiotics are not the answer in most cases – especially as it’s a viral infection where antibiotics are ineffective."
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