Asthma attack and A&E

[Liverpoolfan89]

My husband has allergic asthma and Eosinophilic asthma and for the last 2 weeks has been unable to keep these under control. We have had little help from the GP and he was told to continue what he was doing but take a covid test to be safe.( which was negative). He was then asked to take another one 2 days later also negative.

Yesterday it ended in my husband having to go to A&E after speaking to an doctor at the hospital. He was told he would not go on a covid ward which we were previously told he would as it was a respiratory issue because he had had 2 negative test results but when he arrived he was told he would not be treated unless he went onto a red ward.

This has caused much stress because he is at a higher risk and has not yet received his vaccine.

I understand how cautious they need to be at this time but it seems that asthma sufferers are being left behind. He cannot even seem to get his asthma nurse to call him back for advice or a review of his meds.

I just wondered if anyone else has had this experience.

[twinkly29]

In most hospitals they swab on admission and people go to assessment zones until cleared at the point of admission. It's just how it has to be and has been that way since last year. Having asthma does not make him more at risk of getting covid though - even those who are officially CEV (perhaps unless they have specific immunity issues) are not at higher risk of catching covid. Having non-severe asthma doesn't necessarily mean he's at higher risk of complications either but the actual risk of getting it in the first place is not the issue.

Asthma wise though, it's more important that he's seen for that, whether covid is a risk or not - uncontrolled asthma especially acutely (ie issues that won't settle) are more likely to be dangerous to him now - so that has to take priority. No-one should be doing the oh there's covid in the world I can't seek help for other immediate health issues needs thing.