Inhalers from Asda

Decided to try this service today - wasn't successful. Apart from the 25 minute wait to see the pharmacist the lady on the desk said she'd have to ask the pharmacist if she was able to do it anyway, when i enquired why there was some doubt she said they had a locum pharmacist in and didn't know if she was accredited. Apparently they've rolled the scheme out without getting all the pharmacists trained and accredited *sigh* what a useful system!!!

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did they tell you when the regular chemist will be back?

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Well tought out then!

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That's what i thought Angelica!!

No Joan but it's not an Asda i'd really visit regularly - i just thought i'd try it while i had half an hour to kill

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I noticed on Amazon.co.uk that they were selling Ventolin inhalers (sadly price is more expensive than on prescription or Asda).

Sadly it doesn't surprize me regarding Asda rolling things out, without really thinking through everything. (I used to work for them), they saw it as a good customer service, and therefore rolled it out. Without considering what would happen for when locums had to be used.

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Make that 2 wasted journeys!!!! OK partly my own fault for not reading the leaflet from cover to cover - i didn't have a box with a pharmacy label / my repeat prescription with me today, it would've been useful / nice if they'd at least asked me that question last week. And how annoying i've never had my inhalers dispensed from that Asda so its not on their computer. And even more annoying as soon as i got home i found my last empty inhaler box in my bedroom bin.

Right i'm going out again later will try a different asda on the way home - it says the pharmacy is open till 11pm and i'll be there arounbd 9 so hopefully it'll be 3rd time lucky!!!!

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Good luck! Very annoying when they do that sort of thing with not telling you.

I realise they don't want to just hand them out to anyone, but I'd have thought needing the prescription/box kind of defeats some of the point of this service - thought it was at least partly if you eg ran out and needed one right away, or had forgotten it, and in that case you might well not have the box either!

Or have I misunderstood?

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well if you've misunderstood Philomela so have I!!! (i didn't bother going tonight, i'll try it on thursday)

I've just deliberately googled about buying inhalers at asda and NOWHERE can i find anything about needing the box / prescription details!!! Ok it may be on the leaflet but the leaflet is a specific asda leaflet so if like me you've gone in with that specific purpose then you'll likely be refused.

I've aso just read in a discussion forum if you get to the questionnaire part they apparently ask you how often you use your inhaler and if it's more than twice a day you'll be refused as well

I'll let you know if i'm ever successful with this service!!! (next update probably thursday)

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they apparently ask you how often you use your inhaler and if it's more than twice a day you'll be refused as well

I'm really rather pleased to hear that! One thing that occurred to me is that there was a danger that the ASDA service would be used by people who needed to use their reliever inhaler more than they wanted their GP to know - if you can get a replacement without the repeat prescription order going on your notes, how would your GP find out? This would be a bloomin' dangerous state of affairs, so I hope it's followed by all ASDA branches.

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I'm really rather pleased to hear that! One thing that occurred to me is that there was a danger that the ASDA service would be used by people who needed to use their reliever inhaler more than they wanted their GP to know - if you can get a replacement without the repeat prescription order going on your notes, how would your GP find out? This would be a bloomin' dangerous state of affairs, so I hope it's followed by all ASDA branches.

Apparently according to friends that work at asda pharmacy, they're suppose to actually inform your GP that you have been given the inhalers.

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Success at last!!!!

Tried a 3rd different Asda tonight and it was 3rd time lucky.

This pharmacist didn't ask for a box with a pharmacy label or a repeat prescription form - in fact he didn't ask for any ID at all :-s

Anyway, a few questions (didn't even ask for my GP's name :-s), about 10 minutes and £7 later i came out with 2 blue inhalers

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I can tell you that they didn't inform my GP - they didn't even ask who my GP was.

Also, he said that the information wouldn't be shared with anyone - yes this is good for confidentiality / data protection etc i asked would it come up on other Asda computers - thinking would i have to go through that every time and he seemed very unsure. So, if the information isn't even shared between Asdas what's to stop someone just visiting lots of different branches.

I was given a leaflet to give to my dr to say i'd used the service so i did read it cover-cover and it doesn't say you need a box with a pharmacy label / any other ID.

From what i did last night it would seem that anyone *could* just go in and get inhalers without even really needing them :-s hmmmm

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I can tell you that they didn't inform my GP - they didn't even ask who my GP was.

Also, he said that the information wouldn't be shared with anyone - yes this is good for confidentiality / data protection etc i asked would it come up on other Asda computers - thinking would i have to go through that every time and he seemed very unsure. So, if the information isn't even shared between Asdas what's to stop someone just visiting lots of different branches.

I was given a leaflet to give to my dr to say i'd used the service so i did read it cover-cover and it doesn't say you need a box with a pharmacy label / any other ID.

From what i did last night it would seem that anyone *could* just go in and get inhalers without even really needing them :-s hmmmm

That is a little worrying. I think Asthma UK's media relations team need to have a word with ASDA's to see what company policy is meant to be, and then we can highlight any transgressions.

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That's worrying if they don't contact your GP. When I worked for Asda a 3yrs ago, no information was shared, though you can locate stock. Why is it that I can see this being abused by some people. If I remember I might ask the asthma nurse at my next review in 4wks time to see what she thought.

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my review is in about 4 weeks' too, we don't have a specific asthma nurse - the nurse i see for my asthma review is the same one my mum sees for her diabetes review! I will be telling her i've used the asda service - especially as i won't be getting repeat prescriptions for reliever inhalers from them and i wouldn't want them to think i'm suddenly not using it at all so they think my symptoms have disappeared and they take me off both inhalers!

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I was only diagnosed with asthma 4wks ago, so yesterday was my 1st asthma nurse apt. So given clenil (brown) inhaler, plus to keep up with the symptom diary, not been told to do PF yet, it wasn't even brought up. I should have enough in my blue inhaler to last till then.

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I know this is an old topic but thought i'd update with last night's experience.

I went to a different asda than last time for my inhalers and i got told the system has changed. Now you can only get 1 inhaler for £7 rather than the 2 you used to get. Also they DO write to the GP now, she was filling in a letter as she went through the system on the computer.

Unfortunately i came away empty-handed, the system said i was't eligible and i should see my GP!!!!!! I think this is a mistake the GP's surgery has made - when my brother collected my qvar for me the other day my reliever inhaler has actually been taken off my repeat!!!!!! A phonecall to the GP is needed on monday!!!!

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I have been to 3 Asda's, 2 Boots & 4 chemists in Liverpool for a inhaler as my other one is getting low. I was refused in all Asda's, Boots wont give you any if you dont purchased your prescriptions with them and the chemists also said no.

So all that about you can buy them over the counter is a load of rubbish! Really Really annoyed.

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Last month I was 200 miles from home and had brought my empty inhaler with me (doh), I thought thats fine I will sign up with the asda service, I was refused because I was honest about how much I was taking it.

I was offered an emergency prescription for 1 inhaler instead, my prepayment card didn't cover the charge but it was certainly a better option than trying to find a doctor or walk in center in a strange town.

It is good to know there are options as its not the first time I have been caught out as I work away a lot and I am not very organized