15 February 2008

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is calling on the expertise of doctors, pharmacists and nurses to volunteer as guest presenters at child care centres across the nation this autumn.

Volunteer presenters are encouraged to register their interest in providing short information sessions to local child care centres by mid March to allow time for volunteers to be briefed and matched to requests from child care centres interested in reducing cross infections.

Education and information sessions for child care workers are being offered to raise awareness about common colds and antibiotic resistance. Presenters will discuss practical ways to reduce infection rates among children and how to get the message home to parents.

The staff updates are a key component of NPS’s 2008 common colds need common sense, not antibiotics national health promotion campaign.

During the 2007 campaign, over 400 childcare centres registered for these information sessions and 160 health professionals volunteered as presenters.

“Demand was exceeded and feedback from childcare centres was excellent,” said Dr Lynn Weekes, NPS CEO. “We are encouraging more nurses and pharmacists to sign up to give these staff updates to help us meet demand and address the many misconceptions about common colds.”

The 2008 Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign, now in its eighth year, aims to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics for common colds as well as reinforce simple hygiene practices. The campaign runs from April to August.

The sessions are usually 45-60 minutes and provide a great opportunity to address the inappropriate use of antibiotics for common colds and provide practical advice on preventing the spread of cold viruses. It can also be a good forum for discussion on the consequences of antibiotic resistance, which is a very real public health concern in Australia.

NPS provides volunteers with supporting material including a specially prepared staff update guide, a PowerPoint presentation and a hand washing activity.

The hand washing activity will be a fun and interactive; simulating how easily bacteria can travel if hygiene practices are inadequate.

ENDS

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.