Has anyone else had their inhalers reduced , my husband has had 4 a month for over 20 years , Gp has reduced it to one a month .
he has a nebuliser he uses 4 times a day . He’s really struggling, but they won’t give him any more , he’s on end of life care , and so worried that they don’t care by withholding his medication . We have had to have ambulance and paramedics out twice since they have reduced this
Should not be struggling please get a second opinion this doesn't seem fair...as he a respiratory team you can speak to ??
The gps are getting stingy and cost cutting. Must be putting lives at risk ,it's a scary thought .they also change meds around causing issues too
Has the Gp given any reason for the reduction ? If my consultant has put me on a particular inhaler/ medication my respiratory nurse/ gp never change. It seems terrible they have reduced medication without speaking to you or giving a reason.
This is not right. If he is struggling then he obviously needs whatever inhalers help . You need to speak with doctors or a respiratory nurse, no-one should suffer when there’s help out there.
I hope you get the help he needs.
I would have a word with your gp and would let him know how damaging it is to your husband to have these inhalers withdrawn. If your hubby is on end of life care then your gp is supposed to be providing support. Honestly as if you dont have enough to cope with. I hope you can get this sorted quickly x
I would put in writing to the gp the problems that are being caused. Email or write to the surgery then if you hear nothing book an appointment to discuss the letter.
If you simply talk to the gp then they can write up the records how they want to.
I was transferred to a different hospital and they wrote in the records that I was happy to be transferred, when I fact I objected quite strongly.
Immediately contact the gp in writing with your complaint, Be sure to head your letter/email "Official Complaint."
Hi, I'm shocked to read your post Park-side-view. I agree with Izb1, do contact the GP practice as soon as possible to ask: Why the reduction in inhalers? Why if your husband is on end of life care are they hastening the end?
If it's cost cutting surely it's not working with having to call ambulance and paramedics twice which is costly for NHS?Hopefully it's an oversight 🤞, if it's a particular GP then I would definitely be making appointments with another one. As Homely2 suggests, putting things in writing is a good idea as an email - I know it's impossible to email my surgery so you could try the Practice Manager.
Good luck, please keep us posted on how you and your husband get on. P ××
I questioned Gp , they say that there is 200 doses in the inhaler, also it’s something to do with air quality. Plus he has the nebuliser if inhalers don’t work . Which is a mockery as he only has one , they have given him another , but it seems like they are cutting back . I’m waiting for a consultant home visit to discuss in person the reason why they have stopped the other 3 . As he runs out now , having these gives him a little control over his Heath. I’m going to call for a home visit every time he runs out , friends who used inhalers are dropping some off to try to help
Oh my God that’s dreadful get in touch with your local radio station and MP
Thank you
Hi! Not that I’m anywhere as bad as your Husband but they tried to cut my inhaler down from two puffs twice a day at 200/6 to one puff twice a day at 100/6. With the result I had an Aspergillosis attack. The Consultant said asthma but I’ve never had Asthma badly. He got it put on my notes for the Doctor that they don’t cut me down. Perhaps you can get the Consultant to do that for your Husband. Or ask if he’s fit enough if he can see a Consultant. It’s wrong to cut him down at this late stage unless there’s a very good reason for it. You need to know.
Hi Dr reduced my Ventolin from 2 a month.too one.It made me anxious panicky.was frightened of running out.booked appointment.with gp and explained to gp.that my breathing was much worse had to use my inhaler 10 times a day.she put me back on 2 inhalers a month.it's all down to money.does not help you with your needs /care.
Gosh that doesn’t seem right. Hope you get the home visit soon x
If your husband is under the palliative care team ring them. They can sort it to up inhalers.
that seems completely ridiculous to me. End of life care should be to make one as comfortable as possibly and reducing inhalers and have him struggle is just cruel. There must be someone or somewhere you can go to get the original policy reinstated.
That is shocking to treat some one in that condition I would go and see the doctor see what he says but if a consultant has percribed that treatment I know for a fact docter can't alter it my daughter few years back she has asthma at the time realy bad consultant sorted her inhalers out all good but then doctor changed it when she went back hospital she told consultant meds being changed he said they don't have permission to go against me I'm the boss he rote to dcs telling them mind he also sent a nurse from hospital to make it clear I thought it was fantastic that consultant did that so hope things work out for you s
So sorry to hear this. I hope you can get it righted. Your husband deserves to be as comfortable as possible.
So sorry. This sounds like a lack of caring. Please get second opinion 🐞
I suspect it's a government guideline, inhalers are big business for big pharma trimbow and fostair are almost £90 each. As with all things government related they are charging more whilst cutting back. I think the cost of the drugs is beginning to cripple the NHS. I think they become to the end of the line where they're charging the tax payer as much NI as they can get away with yet it's simply not enough. The cost of drugs, the massive salaries of the top tier staff, the cost of the energy running hospitals that are lit and heated 24/7 not to mention the millions of computers left on over night. The cost of the hundreds of thousands of lower staff ....nurses hadva rise.....so did everyone else. The waste is phenomenal we give three course meals three times daily, people tick every item on the menu for their elderly parent "because it's free" and 90% is thrown away.....every day. The NHS has made every cut back possible and is almost to the bone so now they've started cutting back the meds. I feel they want to end the big sore that the NHS has become and said this 15 years ago when they started replacing cheap equipment for expensive stuff. Manual Penny Thermometer, BP puff n cuffs for fancy electronic machins costing thousands, replacing the simple white board for patient change to computer systems costing millions, simple manual beds for electronic ones costing millions. Simple bins to ones costing £200 a piece at the tune of £4000 a ward, needless waste whilst cutting back on the important stuff like decent toilets and wash facilities for patients, nursing and cleaning staff, drab peeling paintork, bay curtains hanging on a thread .....money seemed to be spent on everything but the patient, back then it felt like the money was being used for the sake of it on things that worked perfectly fine and withheld from the patient to give the IMPRESSION that it was short of money to the patient and visitors in order to eventually privatise. Well now I think they've overspent. All those fancy new equipment replacements need electricity to run and I think the energy bills alone are starting to cripple the budget that, and the price of drugs.....they can't cut back on the electricity because EVERYTHING now requires it so the last thing to go is the drugs. Sadly I would imagine it's end of life patients to suffer cutbacks first. The government are now calling the shots when it comes to everything medical, and they are so out of touch with the ordinary people that these decisions are taken rather too lightly. A few of us have tried to speak up about this but sadly most staff don't care and most patients don't want to hear it and we're seen as moaners, crazies and conspiracy theorists. The only way we can put a stop to this...... because it's not free WE pay for it or have spent our whole working lives paying for it, it's OUR NHS not the government/ managers.......is to lobby and hound! Call the surgery have them explain exactly why his inhalers have been reduced, could simply be a GP personal decision or a simple oversize if not, demand they're reinstated. Go to your local MP who may be able to raise it in parliament, if not go to local newspapers and talk to community groups and let people know what's going on. We're stronger together. Hope it gets resolved quickly for your dad xx
Disgusting! Couldn’t believe what I was reading. Do you have a local hospice or single-point call line where you can get further advice regarding this as you say your husband is EoL care, he doesn’t have to be referred to hospice to seek advice. Ours has a dedicated respiratory out patient department for all struggling with breathing. You must contact GP at very least to get review of breathing and need for further inhalers. Love to you both. Take care 🦊xx
Thats hard 😞wonder if they think the inhaler's dont work anymore or a cost cutting excuse?
You mention end-of-life care, your husband should be comfortable, you may not be aware that Sue Ryder might provide care for life limiting diseases at home, is it worth a call to them?
Good luck and keep fighting for answers and help that you need.
Janzo
Inhaler technique
Salbutamol Inhaler not used as a reliever anymore?
