inhalers

[jessyboo07]

hi,just wandered if anyone has ever been refused an inhaler at all?i went to doctors today to collect my sons prescription for his inhaler,he has a repeat prescription,which was handed in on monday,so should be ready today,but they said he cant have it till friday,even after i told them he has hardly any left,was so angry.

[Jaynieb83]

I’d have been angry too Jessyboo! Have you got it sorted yet? I think I’d ask the chemist if they could supply one? Also could you ask the dr for a spare as a back up? then you will always have one in.

[Weeannie]

This happened to me a few times, it’s not usually the doctor but the jobs worth receptionist. Most inhalers hold 120 puffs. You open a new one you lose a puff, you take 2 puffs twice a day, wash it weekly and lose a puff every time you put it back together. This adds up to on an average 31 day month to 130 which is 10 more than is there. So the one per month allowance doesn’t cover it. You need to see your Doc and get him to hand you a prescription for 2 inhalers so u always have a spare x

[Shirleyj]

That is shocking, inhalers are life savers. See your doctor and ask for an extra inhaler, one to keep by your bed and one to be with you, this is not unreasonable. Wish you luck x

[Superzob]

Our pharmacist has an agreement with the GP surgery to prescribe repeats on an urgent basis if required to avoid unnecessary delays. Our normal repeat waiting time is 2-3 working days, but inevitably people forget to renew in time and the system allows for that. I'd try your pharmacist and see if you can speed up the repeat.

[Anniecath]

Hi, yes this has happened to me too and yes it was the receptionist. What they are doing making these decisions without being qualified is beyond me. As others have said ask for two inhalers in the prescription and reiterate that asthma is a life threatening illness, particularly frightening for a child, and that relieving inhalers are life saving devices. For health professionals they behave in a particularly stupid way a lot of the time. I wish you luck and hope your son hasn't suffered because of this stupidity.

[katieellen]

This makes me angry. I find it so difficult to get an inhaler when I run out there should be a system in place which allows you to get an inhaler whenever you need one it literally is a life saver. It would save so many trips to A&E which I have had to do in the past, this being due to Drs receptionists refusing me appointments. The chemist I am at ATM is really good and will sell me one if I need it.

Hope you managed to get hold of one!

[Egret_J]

I’d be angry too. 😤

My son had two relievers on his prescription after I said he needed one for School/college. He is prone to losing things and having one reliever always in the same part of his school bag/rucksack made a big difference. It also meant we had a spare in emergencies.

Can you speak to the asthma nurse about what happened? Sounds like some staff training is needed.