Can't even afford a fucking inhaler

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I'm in the UK. I have a monthly prescription for my inhaler. My inhaler has ran out as I've been poorly and needing it more than usual plus I'm asthmatic. I called my surgery today and got a telephone consultation to be told I can't have a new script for one for another week. I've looked on med express who could give me one but it costs about £12. I know it's not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things but it is for me at this point in time. I'm crying due to the fact I'm not yet eligible for one off the NHS and I have a chesty cough. Just gonna curl up in a ball and cough myself to sleep

If you have a chesty cough you need a doctor’s appointment, not an inhaler - you might have a chest infection.

Why can’t you have another? Did they also discuss your preventer inhaler?

You must know someone who can lend you £12?

I've been coughing since I was born it's just got progressively worse. Had multiple antibiotics

Because it's prescribed monthly

If you can't cope ring 111 & get help xx

its disgusting you couldn't get another inhaler xx

Actually no I don't. We're all struggling

Who was your telephone consult with? I would make an emergency appointment in the morning with a different GP and say you’re struggling to breathe without it.

I will do thank you. I agree. At this time of year I need it more than ever. Forgive me to a pp for being sicker than planned at this time of year

A nurse practitioner

This is insane. You’re not a robot, you a human being. You’re not necessarily going to use it to a machine schedule if absolute consistency. That inhaler could be lifesaving in an exacerbation and they’re keeping your short, knowing you don’t have one. They’re happy to risk your life to save themselves £3 or £4 (the cost to the NHS of an extra inhaler)??

I’d make a complaint to the practice manager asap in the morning and raise merry hell.

If you’ve used an inhaler in a month you need a review of your care

Get an appointment ASAP. Cough or not your asthma is uncontrolled if you are getting through an inhaler that quickly & you need to have it looked at.

Asthma is no joke. If you can’t get a GP appointment get to a walk in clinic.

She absolutely should NOT have to pay extra for this. Asthma is a life-threatening condition. It’s absolutely disgusting.

It's 200 puffs a month plus with it being winter I use it more

Thank you I'm gonna be back on the phone first thing

The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Get back on to the surgery and insist on an emergency appointment. The receptionist was fobbing you off, but you need to continue to make a noise until you are heard. Say that you will need to go to a&e unless they sort you out.
If this fails then ring 111, or do that now if you can’t wait till morning.

I didn't say she should 🤷‍♀️

The OP brought up the price, not me.

As an asthmatic who got pneumonia 2.5 years ago because of a mild chest infection and could not get seen by a GP, please please please go to a doctor ASAP. Honestly, you need to look after your lungs, especially at this time of year. The NHS is a disaster right now and you have to push to get heard or no one will help you.

If your gp only issues the inhaler for a month at a time you need a prepay certificate:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc because you can then get an unlimited number of prescription items for an amount equivalent to 11.5 prescription charges so anyone with a monthly medical item saves money. However GPs are supposed to issue prescriptions for 2-3 months at a time unless there is a good reason not to (usually if the drug is addictive)

Make an appointment with the practice Asthma Nurse because if you are using the medication faster than they are willing to prescribe then you are either on the wrong prescription or are using it wrong

Do you take a preventer inhaler? Sounds like you should be on something like Fostair. Using your reliever more than twice a week signifies you need a review. Do you have an asthma care plan? Regular reviews?

There’s probably a lot more to this than you’re saying.

1 inhaler / month - 200 puffs - that’s approx 7-8 puffs every day of the year plus more in the old weather?

I imagine you’ve been told before this is overuse and inhaler addiction, nice hit and feels like it’s easier? So they’ve restricted your scripts. And likely tried to maximise your other meds.

cough since birth - only on an asthma reliever for cough? Really.

Your prescription is wrong if you’re getting through it so quickly.

tou Need an urgent review - and also, insist on a 3 month prescription. As a op said, they are supposed to do that other than in the case of addictive meds.

I’ve insisted before and got it - despite the gp saying they couldn’t at first. You have to say you can’t afford it, they work on keywords.

Ring 111 and tell them you’ve ran out of medication

my GP also do triage forms that I thought was a bad habit idea but worked really well for me

if you can do a triage form or contact them again the key is you've ran out of vital medication

Thank you I will try again tomorrow