Rescue pack

[Wizzer]

My doctor flatly refuses to give me a pack. Said must see doc before taking anything so I can be checked out to see what I need. I can get an emergency same day appointment. If I get blocked in by snow as I did in 2010 don't know what I'm supposed to do.

[Jessy11]

Hi Wizzer, most GP's allow COPD & asthma sufferers to keep a rescue pack at home.

I always have antibiotics & Prednisolone in the house & I know when to use them.

We get to know our bodies & the symptoms of an exacerbation.

When I have an infection I can start the meds & let my GP know when he's open that I'm on them.

I live in Scotland & do not live near any walk in medical centres.

Perhaps your GP gave you an explanation of why he won't give you a rescue pack.

It certainly is a sensible thing to have especially when a surgery is not open on weekends or holidays.

Take care 💐

[Hidden]

Sorry you don't have a good doctor. Most of the people on this site have rescue packs. Only thing I can think of you should phone NHS 24 and see what they say

[Wizzer]

My medical centre has several doctors and I've been told it is their policy not to give this medication to keep at home. The reason being that the doctor wants to check out patient, ie me, to make sure what is needed before giving any medication. This is to ensure the correct diagnosis is made on which medication is required.

[Hidden in reply to Wizzer]

Do they say what to do when you can't get an immediate appointment? Or at holidays and weekends? Tell them next time you need ab's and you can't get hold of them that you will either call a doctor out or go to A & E. That should shift them.... x

[kimmy59]

Do you have Community Respiratory team, ask them to speak to the doctor. I don't even go to my doctor I just call them out.

Kim xxx

[camping-girl]

I want one too, next time I'm at GP I'm going to ask for one because when you are poorly it's hard to get to GP...I'm at day 13 of a cold, getting a bit wary now, I'm trying every move I know to shift it, got my "surprise" 60 th coming up on the 30th & would like to sing & dance! How do you know if it's an infection?

Kay

xx

[stone-UK]

Hi

Extract from NICE guidelines .

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Self-management

Patients at risk of having an exacerbation of COPD should be given self-management advice that encourages them to respond promptly to the symptoms of an exacerbation.

Patients should be encouraged to respond promptly to the symptoms of an exacerbation by:

starting oral corticosteroid therapy if their increased breathlessness interferes with activities of daily living (unless contraindicated)

starting antibiotic therapy if their sputum is purulent

adjusting their bronchodilator therapy to control their symptoms.

Patients at risk of having an exacerbation of COPD should be given a course of antibiotic and corticosteroid tablets to keep at home for use as part of a self-management strategy (see corticosteroids in this pathway for details of dosage levels of prednisolone).

The appropriate use of these tablets should be monitored.

Patients given self-management plans should be advised to contact a healthcare professional if they do not improve.

For information on effective antimicrobial medicine use see the NICE pathway on antimicrobial stewardship.

Quality standards

The following quality statements are relevant to this part of the pathway.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease quality standard

7Management of exacerbations

Sources

The NICE guidance that was used to create this part of the pathway.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2010) NICE guideline CG101

[Wizzer in reply to stone-UK]

Hi stone thanks for the info. Pulmonary rehab explained the nice recommendation but when I mentioned it to a doc at health centre he just said it was not their policy and if I feel unwell I should ring the surgery four an emergency appointment

[stone-UK in reply to Wizzer]

Hi

That's fine but my recent one started Tuesday I could not walk to front never mind visiting doctors.

So for me the home pack was a gods send.

[sheila1kerry in reply to Wizzer]

Personally i could not manage without the rescue pack as when it hits me there is no way i can get to the doctors. It also takes some of the worry away, just knowing that i have the ab's at home si if i get an infection i can treat it straight away. I hope your doctor listens to you.

[Toci in reply to Wizzer]

What if you begin to be unwell on Christmas eve? They will not be open for days!

[Wizzer in reply to Toci]

I agree. The answer I got for that was that an emergency doctor is on duty at the out of ours service.

[Toci in reply to Wizzer]

I would make a pest of myself until they complied with the recommendations!

[PollyP in reply to stone-UK]

Thanks for posting this for folks Stone, I thought I remembered seeing it in the NICE guidelines too. I always have a pack at home, and this info is so useful to post up for people

Have a great day

[pegbl]

Hi Wizzer, my Dr gives me the rescue pack in case I have a flare up on a weekend when there is no surgery open as he says I have sense enough to know when to take it, and it stops me getting any worse until I can get to see him. xxx

[Wizzer]

I have little info. I get spirometry once a year and in between I only see doc if I have a problem. I've never been told of a respiratory team. I was diagnosed with copd by the asthma nurse about 8 years ago. I did go to pulmonary rehab for 12 weeks about 4 months after diagnosis but nothing since. I've been told I can ring a healthcare assistant and talk to her but she's not even qualified to due spiromtry.

[Hidden]

I would change doctor or complain to GMB. Because you are not getting the right treatment. My last doctor spoke to NHS 24 and gave them all my details so I didn't have to go over everything with them if I had to phone NHS24 touch wood I have never had to phone NHS24 because I have always had a rescue pack in the house

[Wizzer]

I am due for annual checks shortly so going to mention it again at that time. Changing not an option as this health centre covers where I live and no others close by. I just feel a lack of support from my practice but when I do need to see them as I have over the last few months they do check me out band give treatment required. I get 100% support from my dear husband I could no it wish for more. Also my daughter even though she has ms is always living band caring. Thank you everyone for giving me advise and information it is much appreciated

[Dawn60]

Hi Wizzer my doctor the same, yet when I lived in Worcester the doc said I must always have an emergency pack. So confused. We all know how & when to use them & only use when needed so don't see the problem. Like others on this site have said before they should just spend 1 day in our shoes especially with chest infection this is my 3rd since September, so I end up going so often in a year I don't like to go for anything else that worrying me. Take care

Dawnxx

[corsaking]

I have no problem getting rescue pack.My rehab nurse at classes asked me to ask for them. She did say that not all doctors agree with giving you them. When you are not feeling well just call them in often and they might get fed up visiting you .

[onamission]

My x GP was the same I got the flu phoned up for a appointment told them I had COPD I was told the next appointment was in 3 weeks time. I couldn't believe how fast I went down it went straight to my chest and I have never fully recovered from it this was my first infection after being diagnosed.

I now go to a GP surgery who is open 7 days a week 8am-8pm and I have a rescue pack.

[katieoxo60]

Hi Wizzer, I don't have a rescue pack, never have. But like you I can usually get a same day appointment. I think it is better to see doctor as then they have a record of your flare ups and can see how severe it is each time, That's just my opinion I would have problems going to surgery if snow was on the ground I have to admit. Could get my granddaughter to call in on her way from work I suppose or ask the chemist to deliver as I am classed as disabled, cross that bridge when it happens I guess.

[inhaler1]

I think the whole point of the rescue pack is to keep people out of hospital, I always seem to get a flare up over the weekend or Bank holiday.!

Your GP needs to realise that people with long term conditions are very knowledgable and would not abuse medication.

The National guideline reccomendation suggests people with long term Lung conditions keep a rescue pack at home.

I get mine replaced each time I use it and GP and Consultant just keep a check on how often pack is used ,in order to adjust medication if needed.

I always take in a sputum specimen as soon as I can, but would have had several hospital admissions without rescue pack.

I do hope you get yours. But you may have to go direct to the body in charge of your local GP service.

Good luck.

[Offcut]

My Doctors will not do rescue packs either. My old doctors did but we moved to a new Luddite ideal that my surgery has? I have had lung issues most of my life but my new GP's insisted for years it was all down to my heart problems. It was only this year they admitted I have crap lungs!

Be well

[Stanny1962]

Well that doesn't surprise me. I had my annual appointment with my respiratory nurse, let's face it we all know our own bodies better than anyone else including any doctor we might be under, I told my respiratory nurse that I was worse than last year in everything I do, she asked me if I had an emergency pack and I told her no, she told me she was going to put me recommend me for a pack, I received a letter from my doctors stating that I had been refused an emergency pack at this time?? What in the hell is the point of seeing a respiratory nurse and her recommending an emergency pack only for a GP to refuse you?? Absolutely NUTTS. My opinion now is kiss my arse I've had enough of you

[spookyfries]

You need a new docter it's unheard of that a docter won't give a rescue inhaler.