Margaret McCartney: We don't need nannying for colds.

Winter means handkerchiefs, and the NHS’s response this season is a campaign to the tune of the NHS Choir. Sparkling and tuneful, they extol messages to keep warm, stock up on food and hot drinks, and keep an eye out for older members of the community. But they also tell us, “See your local pharmacist at the first sign of a cold.” The NHS website repeats this: “Always seek advice from your pharmacist at the first sign of a cough or a cold before it gets more serious.” Let’s unpack this. The NHS would like everyone with any symptoms of a cough or cold to visit the pharmacy. This means the entire UK population visiting the pharmacy two to five times a year. And for what, exactly? Getting a cold is part of normal human existence. Coughs and colds come and go, and the few evidence based treatments (mostly from multiple retailers, such as garages) don’t offer a cure—only slightly reduced duration or severity of symptoms. Yet the NHS advises that coughs and colds require professional interaction to stop them becoming “more serious.” This is an evidence-free idea. It’s also a prime example of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, by scaremongering on a national scale. A cold will go away by itself. It doesn’t need treatment for resolution. It won’t become “more serious” without a healthcare professional’s advice laid on it. It is a cold. A temporary condition.