A Simple Shift to Impact Winter Pressures
As winter respiratory infections continue to place intense pressure on the NHS - driving GP demand, hospital admissions and antibiotic use - researchers are asking whether some of the most effective solutions may already be hiding in plain sight.
A Simple Shift to Impact Winter Pressures is a new, evidence-led campaign bringing together researchers from the Universities of Southampton, Bristol and Oxford, supported by CARRii, to highlight how a simple, low-cost intervention could help reduce the burden of winter respiratory illness and ease pressure on the health system.
The evidence
The campaign is grounded in findings from the Immune Defence Trial, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine. This large UK study involved 13,799 adults and showed that early use of saline nasal sprays during respiratory infection can:
- shorten illness duration by around three days
- reduce symptom severity and disruption to daily life
- cut antibiotic use by approximately 30%
- deliver estimated NHS savings of £50+ per patient
With respiratory infections continuing to drive winter demand across primary care and hospitals, the implications for prevention, antimicrobial resistance and winter preparedness are significant.
L-R: Jim Shannon MP, Prof Nick Francis, Monica Fletcher OBE, Prof Paul Little, Prof Sandeep Ramalingam
Monica Fletcher OBE, Chief Executive of CARRii, said:
“Not every solution needs to be complex. This research shows how a simple, accessible intervention could make a meaningful difference - and why translating evidence into practice is so important for patients and the NHS.”
CARRii banner and campaign bags outside the meeting room at Portcullis House.
Taking evidence to Parliament
On 27 January, researchers, clinicians and policymakers gathered at the House of Commons for a parliamentary briefing supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Respiratory Health.
The session brought together MPs, parliamentary staff, health professionals and partners to hear directly from researchers about the evidence underpinning this campaign, discuss implications for NHS winter pressures, and explore how simple, preventative measures could be better embedded into policy, guidance and self-management advice.
The strong engagement at the briefing marked the beginning of a wider programme of work to translate this evidence into national impact.
Why this matters
Respiratory viruses such as influenza, RSV and rhinoviruses are a major driver of winter demand across primary care and hospitals. Unnecessary antibiotic prescribing contributes to antimicrobial resistance, while illness-related work absence places additional strain on the wider economy.
By highlighting evidence-based, accessible interventions that support earlier self-management and prevention, this campaign aims to contribute to improved patient outcomes, reduced pressure on services, and greater resilience across the health system.
This campaign reflects CARRii’s mission to translate high-quality research into real-world impact. Following the parliamentary briefing, CARRii and partners will continue to work with policymakers, health professionals and stakeholders to support wider awareness, practical application and national impact.
Download Event Materials
To support the translation of evidence into practice, we’ve made key materials from the parliamentary briefing available to download below.
These resources are designed for policymakers, health professionals, researchers and the wider public, and provide both practical guidance and the underpinning evidence.
How to use nasal saline
A practical guide
This short instruction sheet provides clear, accessible guidance on how to use nasal saline safely and effectively, including when to use it, how often, and key points to consider for different settings.
Download the instruction sheet
The research behind the evidence
Research booklet
This booklet summarises the clinical evidence underpinning the campaign, including findings from large-scale trials examining the use of nasal saline for respiratory infections. It outlines the rationale, results and potential implications for winter pressures, antimicrobial resistance and prevention.
The Campaign in Parliament
Whats Next?
The House of Commons briefing marked the beginning of a wider campaign to translate this evidence into real-world impact.
Over the coming weeks and months, CARRii and partners will continue to:
work with MPs, policymakers and health system leaders to support the inclusion of evidence-based approaches within self-management and prevention guidance
amplify the evidence through professional, public and media channels
support awareness of simple, accessible interventions that can help reduce illness severity, antibiotic use and avoidable pressure on NHS services
This campaign reflects CARRii’s ambition not only to generate high-quality research, but to ensure it informs decisions that affect people, patients and health systems - at scale, nationally.
