Don’t demand drugs from your doctor to treat your cough this winter.

That’s the message from the Health department, which is warning against the over-use of antibiotics.

We are being told to try simple remedies like honey or over the counter medicines, and to only see our GP if the cough lasts more than 3 weeks.

Draft guidance has been offered to doctors by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which aims to reduce the use of antibiotics for minor viral illnesses that are likely to clear up on their own.

“Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria; they don’t work on viruses. Using antibiotics when we don’t need to helps fuel antibiotic resistance and could mean antibiotics don’t work in the future when we really need them.”

Islanders are being encouraged to ask their pharmacist for advice and check their symptoms on the NHS choices website.

“Honey and cough medicines have some evidence of benefit for the relief of cough symptoms (but honey should not be given to infants under 12 months)”

In the past three years the total number of prescriptions issued for an antibiotic in Jersey has fallen by 10%, but prescribing rates here are still higher than in England.

GPs are being encouraged to use deferred prescriptions, that can only be used days ahead. If several days after a GP visit you aren’t feeling better you can pick up the prescription without revisiting your doctor.