Salbutamol Inhaler

[Collyer16]

Hi. Just looking for some advice regarding my daughter. She is 5 and using montelukast, flixotide inhaler, steroid tablets when required and salbutamol Inhaler. She is under a paeditrican and recently saw him 6 weeks ago and we usually see him yearly now. Back in Feb she became unwell very quickly and gave all the normal meds... also got a new salbutamol inhaler as was very low at home. last week was informed by her school that her salbutamol Inhaler was low so put a prescription in, gone to collect today to be told by chemist that she already has one and won't get one until her review with a nurse. Went over to the docs they told me the same. Her annual review is 30th March 2018. I even told them i know I recently got an inhaler but this one is for school! Can doctors really do this.... this is my daughter's life he is playing with. Any comments would be really appreciated.

[emmasue]

I can't believe they wouldn't give you an inhaler! Do they have a spare inhaler at school? I know that schools should be able to keep one now. I was wondering if they could keep one randomly just in case a child needed one, or is that too logical? Maybe you could ask the head to ring the GP's surgery? The head might be able to convince a recalcitrant GP to issue one. Good luck and keep fighting. x

[Collyer16 in reply to emmasue]

Thank you. Hubby is going to the surgery from work tomorrow morning and won't leave without a prescription for an inhaler. I will send her to school with the inhaler from home so I have peace of mind. Not sure what the procedure is at school with random inhaler for use with other children but it should be logic.... asthma is a frightening thing for a child even an adult to deal with. Will keep fighting x

[shirl13]

Think doctors are becoming more like businesses'. I went online to do my regular prescription and 7 items had been removed from the selection, these included prednisolone, tramadol and my insulins and needles - perhaps I'm not diabetic anymore and obviously after taking prednisolone daily for 27 years I can just stop it like that. Seeing doctor this morning but I am so angry will have to watch my tongue. Hope your doctor sees sense and realises your daughter needs her blue inhaler

[Minushabens]

This seems to be a constantly recurring issue with children, & it's forcing parents into conflicts that they really can do without.

It might be a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but NICE guidelines are clear that children should not be denied access to inhalers if they are presenting with symptoms that look like asthma, even if the GP isn't yet sure what it might be longer-term. So, if she is wheezing, she should get the appropriate medication at that point, end of.

As for 'random' inhalers in school, I'm a primary school teacher & I know that many teachers don't have great levels of knowledge about what they are, how to take them, etc. Nowadays, most schools provide inhaler bags, & the teacher would be advised not to 'borrow' another child's inhaler. I'd generally say that's a good thing, as not all parents keep the inhalers up-to-date, clean, charged, etc., plus they don't necessarily realise that there are different types of inhalers, so unless the teacher is clued up on checking & using one, it probably won't happen.

Good luck & I hope the surgery see sense.

[Chip_y2kuk]

My asthma nurse said if they ever do this speak to me, they can't leave you without essential medication because of politics.... I would speak to your asthma nurse and get her to overrule the gp