Does your emergency department have an Asthma protocol?
I have recently written to my local hospital to ask what the Asthma protocol is in the A&E department.
I was surprised to learn that they don't have one!
Asthma is simply treated like any other respiratory emergency.
Yes l can believe that mauschen and I’m sure it’s the same where we live. My husband has COPD, heart disease and chronic back problems plus he had severe sepsis nearly six years ago. I don’t think we can expect much in the way of protocol with the way the NHS is these days. They just do the best they can for all.
Take care x
As a retired healthcare professional, I have every sympathy with staff working under these severe circumstances.
I feel that my own knowledge is keeping me alive therefore, I avoid hospitals at all cost.
In almost 40 years of Asthma, this was my first visit to hospital. Normally, I can manage at home with all my gadgets but this attack happened when I was in the car.
I have been seriously affected by the way I was left to struggle for breath. All I wanted was a nebulizer.
The hospital should have cared for you in a better way and given a nebuliser if appropriate. Hoping you can stay out of hospital as you seem to do well looking after yourself. I’m carer for my husband and do all l can to keep him safe so he doesn’t have to go into hospital.
Take care xxx
Hi, my hospital doesn't supply Nebulisers I had to buy my own but they do fund the saline nebs to go in them. I get them on prescription from my GP.
Ho,
Our local ICB has such policies and protocols.
We have a superb senior Asthma Nurse specialist who works with everyone to provide the best Asthma service possible across the whole ICB.
The children and young persons asthma service is especially sound, helping all those youngsters to manage their asthma and ensuring all schools and sports clubs etc have their asthma management policies in place.
Hope this helps.
Go well
Pauline
I presume this will be covered by NICE guidelines on Asthma?
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asth....
Having worked as a nurse, many years ago, having a protocol is only of any use if staff are trained in using it and know that it is available.
Are you thinking about hospital wide or for A and E? Reading your reply below it would seem that you had a bad A and E experience. Perhaps you can write to the Hospital manager outlining your experience and asking how they will improve their provision.
I know that can seem like hitting one's head against a brick wall, but I wrote several years ago about poor service and was delighted to recently experience a vast improvement in that particular discipline.
Thank you, I did write to the A&E department because I was very ill with something respiratory for at least 4 weeks. I needed two weeks of steroids. The first week 40 mg daily, the second week reducing, two weeks of antibiotics, my inhaler increased from Relvar Ellipta 92/22mcg to 184mcg where it has stayed. Commenced on Spiriva and in daily need of Salbutamol.
I felt so weak and thought I was going to die.
I have been seriously affected by this experience.
The response from the deputy nursing director was very much about covering all basis. My complaint was upheld but it was influenced by by the lack of resources.
It made me feel like I didn't matter.
I am swithering whether or not to write to the Ombudsman.
This is not about getting people who work hard for a living into trouble. My life was in danger and the doctors and trained nurses chose to ignore me for 7 hours my 02 SATs were 93% on admission but I am not COPD or a smoker.
The doctor who eventually stood up from the desk to listen to my chest after 7 hours in the corridor, told me that my chest was clear.
I have aortic stenosis and a very pronounced third heart sound.
My wheeze was so loud, every healthcare professional in A&E knew what that was.
Yet the letter ignored these facts and decided to focus on a few points if their choice. There was no concern for me. It was about protecting the establishment.
So sorry to hear that was your experience. It seems to be more common, that it is a matter of covering their backsides rather than using as an opportunity to learn from.
My recent experience was so different to several years ago in that I was listened to, properly, by the doctor and it was acknowledged that I'd been let down previously. It was so good to know that there are good professional people out there who still care and that things can change for the better.
I was admitted for pneumonia last year, same city, different hospital. I could not fault my experience!
In my opinion, we have excellent training of doctors, nurses and allied professionals. However, because of the current situation, the most experienced are spread thinly on the ground.
In my case, more than 100 patients were waiting in the A&E department to be seen. This in my opinion was an unsafe situation as the focus appeared to be on speed to get through as many as possible and discharge the majority.
This was a terrible situation for health professionals to be facing and one where mistakes are easily made.
Reliance on junior staff was at an all time high which puts them under serious pressure.
I am highlighting my experience so that others might avoid a similar situation. I am not out to a portion blame to any particular person, rather to highlight the dangers of the working environment in today's A&E departments and the subsequent pressure and stress felt by staff.
Hi , mauschen late answer.
I think "protocol;" in asthma is to do with the needs and medications of the sufferer,
eg - I have a shadow on my right lung apex. after a CT Scan saying it had not got bigger this year, I would be having another CT scan next yeas as per protocol.
Thanks you, I understand where you are coming from.
However, the asthma protocol was always different from other respiratory emergencies.
A peak flow for example, would give an indication of the severity of the attack. Assessing the patient for potentially ongoing triggers suchh as spraying a new perfume or changing washing powder which could be strong smelling on a jumper that could be removed.
Careful interpretation of oxygen requirements via pulse oximeter. One can never assume that a normal oxygen value means that breathing is ok. Asthmatics don't have a problem breathing in, it is breathing out which poses the difficulty.
Many experienced Asthma sufferers do not panic. They have learned over the years to control their breathing for the best outcome.
Asthma is different to the majority of respiratory emergencies and as such requires a protocol for the inexperienced to follow until experienced health care professionals can take over.
Not being able to breath is a most frightening situation especially when the eyes and ears are witnessing incompetence.
Asthmatics become exhausted quickly and death can follow.
For the sake of a protocal that could save lives, in my opinion, the NHS should check that every emergency department has one.
Asthma/COPD
Asthma
Asthma 
Asthma 
Asthma during respiratory infections
