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NHS advises doctors to tell patients with asthma how much their inhalers are contributing to “climate change”

Ground profile image
13 Replies

The Greener NHS has issued new guidance advising doctors to stop prescribing blue asthma inhalers, which are used by millions of patients, due to their contribution to climate change.

In a shocking article published yesterday, The Times clearly demonstrates that the National Health Service (“NHS”) is reaching a tipping point where it is less about health and more about climate change.

The article is about the NHS advising doctors to stop prescribing blue inhalers for asthmatics. Why? Because, according to the headline, the blue inhalers harm the planet. However, after describing the problems asthmatics are causing the environment, almost as an afterthought, The Times noted the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (“NICE”) advice that explains the switch in inhalers is for health reasons.

That The Times has chosen to report on the story in such a way that highlights the NHS is now putting a fabricated anthropogenic climate change crisis above the health of the population is dangerous. Just as shocking as the NHS’ attitude towards its patients, The Times does not criticise the NHS or point out the dangers of green fascism (eco-fascism) taking hold in what was once legitimately called healthcare.

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Ground
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13 Replies

Please note - NICE ended a post they wrote this month about changing to powder inhalers for the environment -

If dry powder inhalers are not suitable for you, it is better for you and the environment to use metered dose inhalers to keep your asthma under the best control possible.

They are not 'all or nothing', despite how the media portrays it.

janedivney profile image
janedivney

Hi Ground 👋 There’s a lively debate on this topic right now on the lung conditions section healthunlocked.com/asthmalu...

Mandevilla profile image
Mandevilla

I really am getting tired with people wittering on about the environmental impact of inhalers. There are so many totally unnecessary things in the world which are damaging to the environment (especially conspicuous over-consumption and materialism) so why so many people are focussing on the environmental damage done by life-saving medication is beyond me!

janedivney profile image
janedivney in reply toMandevilla

Me too. Can’t help wondering if cost is the real issue. Tbh I’m quite angry about the pressure asthmatics are being put under. If you’ve managed, after much trial & error, to reach some stability, you naturally don’t want to mess with it. And there are cases where asthma nurses & gps refuse to swap people back if the new inhaler doesn’t work as well. Non-asthmatics don’t realise how much anxiety this causes

Itswonderful profile image
Itswonderful in reply toMandevilla

Absolutely agree with you Mandevilla. The whole thing is ridiculous.

Dpotter profile image
Dpotter in reply toMandevilla

woe betide any of us damage the environment by taking our medication. Should we just cough ourself to death? The last thing I consider when trying to make sure I can breath is cost or environmental impact! Neither I think are going to have the massive impact they suggest. We’re an easy target I think by those who have no idea about our condition. It is very annoying.

Kekememe1 profile image
Kekememe1 in reply toMandevilla

Seems like they just want to get rid of us. I heard the powder ones are not that good.

Photog24 profile image
Photog24

This is completely outrageous and shows how organisations have gone completely mad over net zero. It really is eco-facism. I’ve been complaining about this for some time now. Next, we will probably be candidates for assisted suicide as we are costing the NHS too much. I say in jest, but then again, you never know!

Xlizixx profile image
Xlizixx in reply toPhotog24

wouldn’t surprise me!

madamestephens profile image
madamestephens

This is a horrible anti scientific post and I would hope the moderators might take it down. If we want people to treat asthma scientifically and with expertise, we should not be using this forum to dismiss climate science as fabricated, false, etc. Of course, if ppl were being switched away from.blue inhalers with no health considerations, thst should be discussed. But, as has already been posted, the NICE guidelines clearly say that they should be continued where that is the best option for the asthmatic. Genuinely surprised and concerned to see this aggressively worded anti scientific post here. The web is full of this stuff, and look where it's getting the world!

Mandevilla profile image
Mandevilla in reply tomadamestephens

I take your point, but apart from the remark about fabricated climate change, I feel the post makes a valid point. There are SO many other things which are unnecessary which are far more environmentally damaging than inhalers, and we should be focussing on those first, rather than on such an important life-saving medication. It's all very well to say that someone can swap back if it doesn't work for them, but if they end up not surviving an asthma attack because it doesn't work, it's a bit late!

Gareth57 profile image
Gareth57

I find it slightly contradictory that they are trying to cut down on CFC's to save the environment but my CFC free inhalers are made from non recyclable polluting plastic!

ALUK_Nurses profile image
ALUK_NursesPartnerAdministratorALUKAsthma Nurse

Thank you for your post, it is great to see healthy discussion about a current topic. If we can continue to keep comments on topic and respectful as we wish to maintain a positive and constructive environment for all.

There is a very similar thread in the Lung Conditions Community Forum also. As with all posts the moderator team are here will and step in to redirect if required.

If you have any queries about your current inhalers or changes to inhalers you can always give our helpline a call on 0300 222 5800 to have a chat with one of our respiratory nurses.

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