The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today, 28 September 2026, released a new suite of interactive educational tools designed to help Bognor Regis residents and healthcare professionals combat the growing threat of “superbugs.”
The resources, which include knowledge quizzes and crosswords, have been launched ahead of European Antibiotic Awareness Day on 18 November. The initiative aims to improve public understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a condition where bacteria no longer respond to the medicines designed to kill them.
The release is of particular significance to the local area, as NHS Sussex remains one of the top-performing regions in the country for antibiotic safety. Recent figures show that Sussex is one of only 14 areas in England to have met all three national targets for responsible antibiotic prescribing, a standard maintained by local GP surgeries and hospitals such as St Richard’s in Chichester.
Resources for Patients and Clinicians
The updated 2026 toolkit provides tailored materials for different groups within the community:
- General Public: A knowledge quiz designed to help residents understand when antibiotics are necessary and why they are ineffective against viral infections such as the common cold or flu.
- Prescribers: Professional-level crosswords and case studies for doctors and nurses at local practices to test their clinical knowledge of the latest prescribing guidelines.
- Pharmacists: Specialist quizzes for pharmacy teams in Bognor Regis to assist them in advising patients on self-care for minor ailments that do not require prescription medication.
Health leaders emphasize that using antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to more dangerous, drug-resistant infections in the future. The tools are intended to support the message that antibiotics should only be taken when prescribed by a healthcare professional and that the full course must always be completed.
“One Health, One Action”
The launch of these resources marks the start of preparations for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, which will run from 18 to 24 November 2026. The theme for this year’s campaign has been confirmed as “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now.”
The campaign encourages a joined-up approach between human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. In West Sussex, this involves coordination between University Hospitals Sussex and the NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to ensure national guidelines are implemented effectively at a local level.
By providing these interactive tools, health officials hope to make complex medical guidance more accessible. Residents are encouraged to use the public quiz to test their own knowledge of “superbugs” and to consult their local pharmacist for advice on managing winter illnesses without the need for antibiotics.
