PHARMACEUTICAL advisors are winning the battle against the over-prescribing of drugs in Darlington.

Darlington Primary Care Trust's board has been told that the prescriptions budget was likely to break even this year compared with previous years, which had seen a large overspend.

The trust has launched a number of campaigns to persuade doctors to analyse how they prescribe drugs.

In the past, GPs have come under pressure from patients to prescribe drugs to cure a variety of conditions, but in many cases, such as viruses, they have no affect.

The campaigns have encouraged doctors to consider alternatives and the public not to automatically expect drugs.

The trust's pharmaceutical advisor, Sally Bell, told the board that antibiotic prescriptions were still high.

But she said: "The message does seem to be getting through and it is a lot better than last year, with much less waste. We are also trying to encourage people to come off sleeping tablets and to delay getting the prescriptions for a few days to see whether the ailments clear up on their own."

Trust chief executive Colin Morris said: "Our GPs have responded excellently and have been central in helping us address the issue.

"The new generation of super drugs, such as statins, are doing a brilliant job and are improving the quality of life for countless people. But this comes at a cost, so it is vital we spend the money wisely."