I don’t mean to trigger anxiety by this so please don’t take it as factual in anyway it is just a question
I was thinking to myself though isn’t asthma one of the most serious/dangerous conditions there is and therefore shouldn’t it warrant free prescriptions?
For example not many other conditions (other than heart issues) can suddenly come on and be life threatening if not treated quickly. Really what other conditions out there do this?
My cousin has hypothyroidism and gets his medication free on prescription yet those with asthma have to pay. If he was without medication he might feel a bit I’ll/ tired after a few months but an asthma attack could be life threatening after a few days without meds.
Written by
Blueforest23
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
The list was created in the 1960s and not really updated except at some point they added cancer.
I think it could do with some updating, and asthma absolutely is a serious condition that I think perhaps doesn't get taken seriously enough in the UK. The importance of preventive medication and the perils of poorly controlled asthma too often isn't well explained or understood. 1 in 6 people don't even know asthma can kill you. Too much 'oh it's just a blue inhaler'.
I also think that the existence of the prepayment certificate could be more widely communicated. A lot of people seem not to know about it and are paying per item.
Asthma and Lung UK, back when they were Asthma UK, were campaigning for an overhaul and free prescriptions for asthma (see here for example and scroll down - there was a petition, now closed, and a report you can download:
I will say that the list needing an update doesn't mean the conditions on it don't merit being there. Hypothyroidism can lead to serious complications, including coma and death if levels get low enough. I was born with no thyroid gland and cannot produce my own thyroxine, so I probably couldn't survive without levothyroxine.
But yes, I agree it would make sense for asthma prescriptions to be free, even if other things are not. I guess a lot of people probably end up not getting the meds they need, especially if money is a bit tight and their asthma doesn't seem too bad at the moment - so easy to think "I could really do with that money for...and I'm feeling so well at the moment that I probably don't really need that inhaler..." and then of course, when they get suddenly worse, there's nothing for them to take.
… and it costs the NHS/healthcare system as they end up in a and e/admitted, £500 per night as opposed to the cost of an inhaler. It’s false economy especially for moderate/severe asthma
Somehow I don’t think training is enough, an advanced practitioner nurse at my health centre has qualifications flying out of her ears but her communication is very abrupt and awful.
I think communication is a subtype of common sense (or in rare cases culture) I believe some people don’t have the potential
Fortunately living in Scotland I get all prescriptions free. Before free prescription started I always purchased a yearly one and saved a fortune. I agree that people that don't understand the dangers associated with asthma just dismiss it, as a if one puff of blue inhaler cures all .
It's just one of a whole list of diseases that have exacerbations +can kill.my sons have lost 2 friends ths wk to other problems,age 39 + 40.It's often best to buy a prepay prescription which is pd dd ea month and can save a fortune
I've often thought the same. They're should be a rethink especially with those on higher doses of inhaler? I know that if I'm not on my preventive medication then I'll end up in hospital. Asthma has quite a spectrum so I can see why the NHS wouldn't want to be providing free prescriptions for everyone but for those of us who rely on asthma meds to literally keep breathing it would seem fair. I do have an annual prepayment which helps massively and happy to keep paying for this but a look at equality compared to other illnesses would be good.
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to ReedB
I think if you made it free for asthma it would need to be all asthma. Even apparently mild asthma needs proper treatment - 50% of asthma deaths in a study were in people being treated for mild or moderate asthma. And under treatment is common - I wouldn't want decisions about whether it should be free to be up to someone who doesn't appreciate asthma is serious or what control looks like. And it would probably lead to very cost-driven treatment decisions and more admin.
Medical care is still very hit and miss according to area, so I would have thought if it were left up to individual health boards they could decide who was serious enough to need free care?
E.g. I know the variation between health boards as to who got Covid boosters was quite large - I have a friend who is my age and gets very occasional asthma symptoms in summer. She has Ventolin which she uses maybe 1-2 times a month over summer and that is all. She was offered the Covid booster because of this, but I, in the adjoining health board, did not qualify as they only offered it to those who had been hospitalised at least 3 times in the past year with asthma! If they're allowed this much discretion regarding Covid vaccines, I would have thought it wouldn't be too hard to work out a system where they could also make their own decisions about prescriptions?
I'm sure they could, but I don't know if I would trust them to do it right. I still think there's a massive lack of understanding about asthma, and our figures in the UK reflect that. I guess the point I was making is that even mild asthma still needs regular treatment - they're moving away from reliever only now. And if asthma gets free prescriptions, people who are 'just' on a brown and blue inhaler should be included so they can actually afford to take their medication properly and stay mild and controlled.
Also, I have seen way too many examples of poor care on this forum, plus experienced it. That includes people whose nurses/drs have undertreated them or who think it's better to have less inhaled steroid at all cost and fill in with reliever. This is how you get those 50% of deaths in mild to moderate asthmatics.
I actually also think the flu jab should be free for everyone with asthma. With new guidelines hopefully everyone will qualify, but I'm speaking as someone who had mild 'occasional blue inhaler' asthma until I caught swine flu. I wasn't eligible for a vaccine even if it had been available when I caught it, and now my asthma is severe. People don't take flu seriously enough, including people with asthma.
Maybe a bit different for COVID as the risk profile is different for asthma compared with even seasonal flu, but it's not necessarily about how bad you are at the time. I felt crap with swine flu but it could have been worse - it was afterwards that it started to mess with my asthma.
I’m another with long term effects after swine flu. I had mild asthma since childhood which disappeared mid teens, A&E started me on a blue inhaler in mid 20s but very rarely used then a brown inhaler added in mid 30s but only if I had hay fever/a cold. From swine flu I ended up on prednisolone for 7 weeks plus Seretide 500 for months. I’ve not been the same since. I did get my meds back down to a low dose Qvar but have to constantly monitor and increase it, Covid was okay (on Fostair) but now back on Qvar and a current lingering cold has sent me onto Ventolin too. I’ll be phoning my asthma nurse 1st thing tomorrow.
"That includes people whose nurses/drs have undertreated them or who think it's better to have less inhaled steroid at all cost and fill in with reliever. "
That would be me then! I'm finally on a maintenance regime which appears to be working,( although I've yet to go through a full winter on it), but before I got the asthma nurse to sort me out, my GP was cheerfully telling me that using Ventolin multiple times a day was fine, and much safer than using those nasty steroids!!!
Thankfully, my asthma nurse has the authority to decide who gets flu jabs and she decided I was severe enough to get one.
Yes -I remember it was you now! I definitely was thinking of someone on here having their GP or asthma nurse say that and I was absolutely facepalming! I'm sure I've said it before, but your GP's lack of knowledge about asthma and treatments is scary! I don't want people like that deciding if someone merits free prescriptions or treatment.
I'm glad you seem to have a regime that works for you - crossed fingers it helps in winter. And that the flu jab does the job.
Asthma medication has a really low copay in my country, but this don’t extend to biologicals or the most expensive inhalers, so people with severe eosinophilic asthma don’t get help to pay. Your insurance may pay for biologics, but it’s their choice, mine won’t pay for Nucala or my Relvar.
I think all prescriptions should be free. I used to think that was why we paid National Insurance- for medical care and pensions. If they can afford to do it in Scotland (and, if I’m not mistaken they also get free social care) then why can’t “English” governments do it?
I have been asthmatic since 1967 and was told that because asthma was so different in so many people that they didn't give prescriptions free but could get 3 month or yearly prepayment certificate. I used to get the yearly one and it covered everything even non asthma items. I can see their point as I know people who only have blue inhaler and it can last them months and months. In 2003 I was told I was diabetic most probably by taking steroids daily for over 12 years. As a sweetener I was then told that not to worry I would now get my prescriptions free lol. Luckily I am now 70 so wouldn't have to pay anyway
Agree, it's hard to fathom particularly nowadays when many are in financial dire straights.Thank goodness for the pre-paid prescription scheme, last time I looked it was about £100 a year. I recall being so relieved to learn about it back when I was paying for several prescription items every month including HRT - which thank goodness is now free for women.
Yes, unfortunately asthma can be a very serious condition which may require different levels of medication to control over many years. This in itself can affect people in different ways depending on their asthma journey, severity and personal experiences.
However, there are plenty of other awful illnesses, which require life long medication and perseverance to manage.
My issue is more with the inconsistency/unfairness? (focussing on the UK here) not only in prescription costings eg. why are meds free in Wales/Scotland and not England? Also why for most other chronic conditions but not asthma? But also the general postcode lottery that is asthma care in the UK which can dictate whether you receive good or possibly life limiting asthma treatment depending on where you live….🤷♂️
I am not convinced this happens with any other condition and this is what makes me a little annoyed. It seems really unfair to asthma sufferers for all the above reasons.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Undiagnosed condition
Asthma attack and chest infection 
Holistic asthma treatments?
hayfever triggering asthma
