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Asthma plan

How are you meant to get an asthma plan if your gp's are refusing to give you one. I have requested one multiple times and I am still refused in getting one

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Have they given you an explanation as to why they won't? NICE guidelines are pretty clear that asthma patients should have a self-management plan so unless there's a clinical reason for refusing (which they should explain to you), it might be worth thinking what's the best way to communicate this to your GP.

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They will not explain the reason and I have informed them of NICE guidelines and they don't seem to care

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I think you probably have a choice of making a formal complaint (it's a really odd one in truth - not something I've heard of before) or just find a new doctor.

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Seconding @minushabens here. Time to complain, and depending how/if they respond, I would consider also reporting them to the CQC on the basis of inadequate care.

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Print on off of the auk site yourself. Then take it with you to see the asthma nurse at your practice. Alternative you can in essence write it out yourself and get the gp to double check it.

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They have ripped them up when I asked as I was doing it for college so they understand what should be done if I have an attack

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The Gp surgery ripped up your action plan?! I would put a comaplaint in and phone Asthma U.K. for advice the guidelines are clear on action plans.

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They are only guidelines and that is it. The complaints goes no where so I don't bother no more

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There is also strong evidence they reduce your risk if hospital admission with one. The first thing that’s checked if anything does go awry is whether the guidelines were adhered to.

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I have never been to hospital as my asthma is perfectly controlled.

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Despite guidelines I have also found getting asthma plans is like blood out of a stone! I always thought they found me too weird/complex for one but perhaps it's a more widespread thing.

I agree with Emma's suggestion to try filling in your own and getting them to look. btw don't let anyone tell you it absolutely has to be entirely peak flow based, if you feel your peak flow isn't reliable. Either peak flow or symptom based or a combination have been shown to work, and it above all needs to be something that works for you. Even someone with a reasonably helpful peak flow should not ignore symptoms even if their peak flow is still ok - it might be going to catch up later.

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I am getting my self checked as I am taking 6 lots of fostair morning and night. 3 morning and 3 evening. I have tried to write one use the asthma website one they just got ripped up

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hmm I agree then with Minushabens, make a complaint and maybe consider a new surgery if that's an option. I don't even get the issue - it's the guidelines and it's not like it's some enormous cost. They really need to have a good reason to keep saying no and I'd say it has to be a really good one which frankly I can't imagine existing in this case.

I might get it if you were under a consultant and the GP felt the consultant was better equipped but think you're just GP atm? And even then they should explain and tell you who to go to.

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I have changed gp 's and still do not want to give me an asthma plan and a complaint went no where

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Twitter this and include @health secretary

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Hi, if you have complained to the GP and got nowhere, I would try to contact your NHS trust which you’d GP will be part of, and try a different approach. Rather than diving in with a big rant, ask what their policy is regarding asthmatics and asthma plans, then when you get an answer you can question the treatment you are receiving. Hope that helps, good luck.

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I think. my fostair 100 /6 inhaler is not strong enough. I have been unfortunate with my asthma this week. When I complained about the asthma plan I polity requested to see anything that might have regarding asthma plan and asthmatics and they just ignored it

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This is an incredibly strange scenario - just to be clear, more than one GP surgery have refused (even though you've asked) to support you to have a management plan, & formal complaints have got you nowhere?

I think either you've been spectacularly unlucky to land with two inept GP surgeries, or something weird is going on in the local NHS Trust. I'd suggest at this point that you probably need more support to work out what is going on; perhaps ask Asthma UK to investigate or write to the local Chief Executive?

Are you in touch with other asthmatics locally? Are they having the same problem?

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My old GPS assisted me since moving gp's I found out my old GPS wasn't sure what type of asthma I had to do an asthma plan correctly to me. They believed that I had adult on set asthma and non allergic asthma. I was never tested for it I was going to when I moved. Because I wanted to know what type of asthma I have. I But I moved away from my old GPS so I could no longer get their help.

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So is the problem that your diagnosis is unclear in some way rather than them simply refusing to do a plan? If so, have they talked to you about next steps? Have you asked them to spell out what you need to do, & if they can't get a clear diagnosis shouldn't they refer you to a specialist?

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I am going to try again later when I see a nurse. I have spoken to people about this and they are at a loss on what to do also because they are having the same problem as I am. With my old GPS that is just rumours. I have never had an asthma attack. My asthma was brought on by hayfever. My hayfever doesn't even bother my asthma. So this why I have not got a clear idea what type of asthma I have

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I won't lie, I'm getting a little confused, but if others are having the same issue, you should probably find someone who can articulate the concerns & maybe ask Asthma UK to contact the NHS Trust. I'm sure they can do that diplomatically & help you to find answers.

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I have been asking around if anyone had similar problems to me as in getting informed about what type of asthma they have and getting asthma plan. A few people has this problem and we are going to be working on a way to assist others with this problem. I am struggling to get the right strength fostair because I believe my current dose is not strong enough. How can we manage something that we don't know what type of asthma we have. I think they might be going to be talking about the idea why should we pay to have the right to breath

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If you’ve got a lobby group going that’s good. If you’re clear on what the problem is, you can focus on who you need to speak to & what you want to say. Perhaps speak to your local HealthWatch group?

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That's what they are doing not me as I am struggling to catch my breath back. I have been taking 3 fostair in the morning and 3 in the evening. I am also struggling to get around for every day stuff

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I have similar issue but a reason for it. My asthma nurse provided one as the registrar at the hospital requested it. I then seen my consultant who was glad the registrars were listening to him but said to get rid of it. The reason for this is i have complex asthma and an action plan doesnt work, this can be because my numbers dont reflect my symptoms and that i should be assessed each time individually because of a wide variability in symptoms, sometimes with a high peak flow for me but actually quite unwell. Hope this helps

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I'm in a similar position Younie including unhelpful numbers. I do have a summary of how I present (this clinic has an official one but when I showed the one I created they agreed it was what they would have done anyway). I use it in A and E/hospital and it's very helpful - maybe worth creating one and discussing with cons or hospital asthma nurse if you can, especially if you end up in hospital a lot.

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You might get one from the consultant tailored to you as I have heard of that happening. I don't know anything about my asthma expect that I have it and that is all

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Hi Camilla, I have downloaded my asthma plan print it and gave it to my GP to fill in. Had no problems at all to get this done.

I find this very unfriendly that your GP don't tell you where and how to get it....

I also would complain about this behaviour or change GP.

You can go on asthma.org.uk there you can print the asthma plan. Hope it will help. 🍀🌹🍀🌹

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I have changed the doctors due to moving. They just don't ripped it up and any complaint I have put in goes no where.

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Hi Camilla 22

I got given mine from the Asthma Nurse on first visit, and you can download them too from the Asthma UK site. Hope you get sorted soon.

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I have tried my own and the other one's you can download they just get ripped up as they don't want to know.

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Please ring Asthma U.K. Monday - Friday 9-5 0300 222 5800 and discuss your issues. I would start off with advice regarding your medication that it is not strong enough.

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My medication is fine. I just been checked out. I have a different medicine for a different problem that has started up.

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