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| Doctors name treatments that bring little or no benefit | Doctors name treatments that bring little or no benefit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Women over 45 do not need a blood test to diagnose the menopause and X-rays are no real help to those with lower back pain, doctors have said. | Women over 45 do not need a blood test to diagnose the menopause and X-rays are no real help to those with lower back pain, doctors have said. |
| The advice, drawn up by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, features on a list of 40 treatments that bring little or no benefit to patients. | The advice, drawn up by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, features on a list of 40 treatments that bring little or no benefit to patients. |
| The list is part of a campaign to reduce the number of unnecessary medical treatments. | The list is part of a campaign to reduce the number of unnecessary medical treatments. |
| Patients are also encouraged to ask more questions about procedures. | Patients are also encouraged to ask more questions about procedures. |
| Medical experts from 11 different specialties were asked to identify five treatments or procedures commonly used in their field that were not always necessary or valuable. | Medical experts from 11 different specialties were asked to identify five treatments or procedures commonly used in their field that were not always necessary or valuable. |
| These have been used as part of the Choose Wisely campaign to highlight the need for patients and doctors to talk frankly about how health issues should be treated. | These have been used as part of the Choose Wisely campaign to highlight the need for patients and doctors to talk frankly about how health issues should be treated. |
| The advice includes: | The advice includes: |
| The current list of treatments will be added to every year. | The current list of treatments will be added to every year. |
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| The academy says there is evidence that patients often pressure doctors into prescribing or carrying out unnecessary treatments and the NHS is also coming under increasing pressure to reduce over-medicalisation - in other words the medicines and treatments it prescribes. | The academy says there is evidence that patients often pressure doctors into prescribing or carrying out unnecessary treatments and the NHS is also coming under increasing pressure to reduce over-medicalisation - in other words the medicines and treatments it prescribes. |
| For some time now, GPs have been advised to cut back on prescribing antibiotics to patients. | For some time now, GPs have been advised to cut back on prescribing antibiotics to patients. |
| The academy says patients should always ask five key questions when seeking treatment. | The academy says patients should always ask five key questions when seeking treatment. |
| Prof Dame Sue Bailey, chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, told the BBC: "Some of these treatments can be quite invasive, time-consuming; there are simpler and as-safe options, so why wouldn't you? | Prof Dame Sue Bailey, chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, told the BBC: "Some of these treatments can be quite invasive, time-consuming; there are simpler and as-safe options, so why wouldn't you? |
| "Because I think what we've got is a culture of 'we can do something, therefore we should do something' and we need to stop and reflect and decide what is the best option for the patient in their individual circumstances." | "Because I think what we've got is a culture of 'we can do something, therefore we should do something' and we need to stop and reflect and decide what is the best option for the patient in their individual circumstances." |
| Do you have any questions on this subject? At 11:30 BST the BBC News Channel will be putting your queries to Baroness Ilora Finlay - the National Council for Palliative Care's chair of trustees. Tweet your questions using the hashtag #BBCAskThis. | Do you have any questions on this subject? At 11:30 BST the BBC News Channel will be putting your queries to Baroness Ilora Finlay - the National Council for Palliative Care's chair of trustees. Tweet your questions using the hashtag #BBCAskThis. |
| Or email your questions using the form below | Or email your questions using the form below |