Gp rescue packs

[ash6]

I just heard that gps will be issuing rescue packs for people with asthma and copd, I'm not sure how true is so I was wondering if anyone else has heard this

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

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“We’ve been made aware of some posts on social media, saying that if you have a respiratory/lung disease your GP will issue a rescue pack of steroids and antibiotics. This is recommended for some people with COPD to be used as part of a personalised plan. However for people with asthma, we do NOT recommend these as standard.

If someone’s asthma is bad enough to consider steroids it is essential they are assessed by a healthcare professional. Even at this busy time for the NHS, getting early support for any problems with your lungs is critical to keep you well and out of hospital.”

From AUK

[ash6 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thank you for clearing that up

[Wheezycat in reply to EmmaF91]

You are quite right, and that is the approach I would want to take in normal times, but now is not normal times. I was given emergency antibiotics last summer, but the last 8 months have been better than things were, so I haven’t used them. And I was given emergency steroids nearly 4 years ago. I have ‘circulated’ them. The emergency ones were due to going away. To date I have never used any of it without consulting , and I would by far prefer to consult rather than decide for myself, but my fear is currently whether I could get hold of anyone in a timely fashion, so I am glad I have the back up. Ditto for me with inhalers. I had no backup, but now I have three spares after a bit of panicking on my part.

[Taima in reply to EmmaF91]

Really? I just got over a bout of asthma where I couldn't speak and was coughing until I vomited several times a day for about a week until my employer took me to the doctor herself, forcibly. I didn't think it was a big deal because I had been like that and worse before but my GP didn't think i should come in and I had never been prescribed steroids before that point (this was a new GP and my first ever appointment).

(Actually I never even had diagnostic tests/a confirmed diagnosis of asthma let alone an asthma plan or ever going to see an asthma nurse though I also complained of tight chest, wheezing and breathlessness especially at night all winter, as soon as I breathed in cold air or in the summer if I had cold drinks or entered a swimming pool since I was a kid. Asthma is not in my medical records so I have been denied access to some support services and PIP even though getting that ill has literally cost me jobs.)

I was given steroids in an emergency appointment that same day, so that constitutes bad? Having never been given a treatment plan or checked in with an asthma nurse, getting like that (to the point of vomiting) happens fairly regularly a few times a year (4 whole months following a bout of aspiration pneumonia one year and 2 months following flu, 6 months of wheezing staying somewhere with cockroaches and a lot of concrete dust) I don't know what is normal in terms of severity of illness and how common it is to be given steroids as a first line of defence. My manager was worried about it happening again so suggested I ask the GP if I can request steroids in advance as a precaution in case I get sick instead of waiting for an appointment. I was under the impression that this is not a medication they just give out and you can't just request it unless it is authorised for repeat prescription but when a colleague spoke to the doctor on the phone for me (I have phone anxiety and she is allowed to do this) they told her I can just add Prednisone to my list of repeat medications on my prescription ordering app myself (convenient I guess) and they'll approve it.

So now I'm wondering is it that bad if they're happy for me to just decide I need Prednisone and order it like the rest of my meds rather than wait to go for an appointment or are they not following protocol?

[Troilus]

I saw this earlier and wasn’t sure if the UK would do the same, but apparently not. It’s from itv news.

GP's in Jersey are sending out thousands of rescue packs to patients for them to use if they develop the symptoms of Coronavirus.

They will include an advice sheet as well as a prescription for antibiotics, steroids or an inhaler with a spacer depending on the patients conditions.

So far 17,000 islanders have been selected to receive the packs.

They will be sent to:

People over the age of 80

People with respiratory problems

People with cardiovascular problems

Diabetics

It follows the advice of Dr Ivan Muscat who recommended that GP's work to reduce the chance of patients developing a secondary bacterial pneumonia.

[Poobah in reply to Troilus]

I have relatives in Jersey and my niece has been part of the huge team planning the hospital response to Covid-19. Their plans are now being put into place with as much support as possible for those patients with preexisting conditions in the community to stay as healthy as possible and isolated at home. Asthma emergency packs, it is hoped, will keep asthmatics out of hospital, away from the GP for safety reasons and able to continue their 12 week isolation. The 12 week isolation started over a week ago.

I must admit to being really impressed with their early response.

All information was published on the States website and is very clear on how to isolate etc

My friends in America are only having a 2 week period of isolation and their main concern is the country's economy.

[Damon1864]

I phoned up and got mine straight away, please ring and get yours. Have a good night and take care of yourself 😊 Bernadette xx

[Abc64]

I have read this. I called the practice to order my usual meds, but no one told me anything about it. It is possibly those with severe asthma who might get it.

[Loulou9000]

I rang my surgery up and asked for a course of steroids because I am self isolating for 12 weeks. They gave me two courses no problem. I didn’t ask for antibiotics though because I knew that would be a no.

[Taima in reply to Loulou9000]

I was advised to ask for steroids in advance by my manager because she doesn't want me out of commission again but was wondering how normal it was for them to let you do that if you don't have them on repeat given the possible side effects.

[Loulou9000 in reply to Taima]

Hi no I don’t have steroids on repeat but due to my history I can request a back up course for times I may be vulnerable but help may be difficult like going on holiday, being too ill to get to surgery etc.

[Marydoll589 in reply to Loulou9000]

Why would that be a no ?

[Loulou9000 in reply to Marydoll589]

My Dr doesn’t give out antibiotics on request you have to see a dr first so they can decide if you have a bacterial infection . It also says in the News and expert advice antibiotics do not work on covid -19 but only on some certain secondary complications at which point you possibly should be in hospital anyway.

[Clairebear35]

I’ve always had a rescue pack, I think if your worried about it talk to your GP

[ReedB]

I always have a spare supply of steriods and antibiotics to use as needed but I always consult my gp if and when I take them, especially with antibiotics. There's the trust that I know my body well enough to realise what I need when I need it. Having said that if I suspect Caronavirus I would definitely wait off taking anything until I'd seen a doctor.

x

[Taztarr]

I was given an emergency rescue pack many years ago as I travelled a lot. Now that I've settled my new GP has refused to continue the issue.

One thing I must point out though, after reading all the replies, is that WHO and government advice is that antibiotics have no effect on a virus and should not be used in an effort to deal with covid-19.

If you think that you are showing covid-19 symptoms get advice first before self medicating.