What else was found?
The research found that seeing a GP for ailments that can be self-treated is estimated to cost an astonishing £2bn every year. The campaign is aiming to shift behaviour around treating minor ailments, which could save the NHS £10bn over the next five years, without cuts to services.
What does the group want?
The Self Care Campaign manifesto is calling on all political parties to support the campaign. It is also asking for healthcare professionals to offer support in making people feel confident enough to use the NHS at the point of need, not demand. The campaign group also wants to roll out a social marketing campaign aimed at educating people to understand and manage minor ailments.
PR strategy
Salix Consulting handled the PR for the story. The Times was given the story as an exclusive on Tuesday.
Media coverage
Alongside The Times and Today programme coverage, the story featured in the Daily Mail on Wednesday with the headline: 'GPs blame "worried well" for overloading the NHS'. The Independent and The Guardian also ran reports.
£2bn - Cost to NHS of people seeing a GP for self-treatable issues
57m - GP consultations each year involve self-treatable issues.
