Can someone clarify the asthma situation?

[Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady]

At first people with asthma were in group 6

Then they weren't

Now apparently people who use a brown preventer inhaler are back in group 6.

I used to use a brown inhaler but was using my blue one too much (asthma was not controlled) so they moved me to symbicort which is a combined inhaler.

So am I on the list for group 6 or not, as I don't use a brown inhaler anymore.

Does anyone know or could link to the guidance?

[quote purplebagladylovesgin]@FeedMeSantiago
I've just found a letter from NHS to all GP's advising them in asthma (further down the letter) and exactly what qualifies as group 6.

It clearly states that asthma that has ever required an emergency hospital admission means a person is in group 6.

Many of you will be able to quote this when you speak to someone. You are included!

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/02/C1124-Vaccination-of-cohorts-5-6-and-additional-funding-for-residential-settings-13-Feb-2021-1.pdf

[/quote]
That's really helpful! Thanks for sharing

I was diagnosed 45 years ago with asthma which has hospitalised me a few times although not for the past 15 years. I've had pneumonia 4 times in the past 6 years, many courses of pred and take Fostair 200 and salbutamol. My asthma is reasonably well controlled until I get a virus and I'm poorly for weeks and my peak flow can be as low as 150. I wasn't told to shield the first time round, yet my daughter who has very mild allergy triggered asthma, on low dose of Clenil was on the original shielding list. She didn't get a letter for the second round though. I think the whole thing is a bit of a mess.
My 80 year old mum who has terminal lung cancer and COPD and was receiving immunotherapy (paused atm) has only just been called for hers although she is currently in hospital and can't be vaccinated until she is discharged.
The hospital she is in won't do it there.

She's not well enough to sit in a vaccine centre and I've no idea how to request a home visit vaccine service for her.

[quote purplebagladylovesgin]@FeedMeSantiago
I've just found a letter from NHS to all GP's advising them in asthma (further down the letter) and exactly what qualifies as group 6.

It clearly states that asthma that has ever required an emergency hospital admission means a person is in group 6.

Many of you will be able to quote this when you speak to someone. You are included!

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/02/C1124-Vaccination-of-cohorts-5-6-and-additional-funding-for-residential-settings-13-Feb-2021-1.pdf

[/quote]
I can’t view this link. Is this ever, as in even as a child? How can we prove to our gp that we had an admission years ago?

That's interesting @Racoonworld , I can't get the link to work either now! Hope it's not another thing that's going to be changed

According to the link, asthmatics have to have been admitted at some point (it read to me as ever) or 3 lots of steroids over a period of 3 months.

I got my text Monday night to book in for the vaccine and am going next Friday. I am 29 and had asthma since I was 2 years old. Numerous hospital admissions as a child and then nothing until my last one in 2018 where I had a huge attack. Managed since then and currently taking salbutamol and Spiriva Respimat. It seems to me to differ wildly region to region.

It looks like that link has been quickly removed. It's no longer available when it's clicked on.

It was very clear and unambiguous. It's a pity it's not still available to read. Every GP in the country would have received it on Monday.

Thing is.

Electronic records haven’t been about that long. So how are they expecting GP’s to know whether the criteria are met without them requesting the paper files from medical records and trawling through every asthmatic patients history?

What a farce.

I spoke to my GP this morning. Needed to adjust my medication as I was getting fast heart rate as a side effect. I'm taking fostair, montelukast and salbutamol as needed. Just changed to different dose of fostair to see if heart rate problem is solved. I'm 39. Never hospitalised, never had steroids although probably could have done with them after chest infections in the past but was always a bit of a dr dodger so cooked without. Asthma has got gradually worse since being unwell last spring but still definitely moderate at worst.

She mentioned unprompted that I would be in the next cohort of people called for vaccination. I was surprised and said I thought I wasn't included in the strict criteria (then wished I kept my mouth shut) she no but the fact your asthma isnt especially well controlled at the moment means you should be included. I'll believe it when it happened bit, fingers crossed! There definitely seems to be scope for the GP to use their judgement, not fair for everyone if theres a bit of a postcode lottery, but hopefully means more people will get the vaccination soon than are maybe expecting to.

My mum's partner, think he's 57, was invited for a vaccination yesterday. Different town from me, has mild asthma blue/brown inhalers only, no steroids or hospitalisation. They're not on to his age group alone yet so its definitely because of the asthma. I'm hoping putting it in GPs hands means a lot of surgeries will be more cautious with who they include.

Apologies for the typos

I also have a fast heart rate on Fostair but my heart rate was fast before I was diagnosed with asthma. I'm on the same meds as Anawi.

I need to request a new spacer and have needed 2 reliever puffs in the last 5 days (tight chest) so only one extra puff away from needing a review. Would it be cheeky to say in my eConsult to ask for a spacer that I have needed my reliever twice in last 5 days when it hasn't met the 3 puffs in 7 days threshold? I was otherwise going to wait until 7 days had passed since the first extra puff to see if I had needed a 3rd or not by then before I requested my spacer.

Are you supposed to request a review if you use three puff of ventolin in a week? I’ve never been told that. (I’ve also been told to buy my own spacers as they will only prescribe for children. Do most people get them prescribed?)

@WrongKindOfFace I had a routine review a couple of weeks ago and the nurse said using reliever 3 times+ a week meant they might need to change medication. I need to ring back really as I said I had been having to use my reliever but thought it was just cold weather, and she said if it continued to call back and she would change me to a combi inhaler. My asthma had been great for ages but recently I keep feeling tight and needing my inhaler.
I was also sent this after which mentions 3 times a week

Thanks. I’ll ask about it at my next review as it’s not been mentioned before. Maybe they just assume I should know that?

@WrongKindOfFace

Are you supposed to request a review if you use three puff of ventolin in a week? I’ve never been told that. (I’ve also been told to buy my own spacers as they will only prescribe for children. Do most people get them prescribed?)

I've always had my spacers prescribed. I have a lot of prescriptions - about 18 a month - and so have an annual pre payment certificate to cover my costs. At £100 it costs less for a year than all my meds for one month! I also have coordination issues and can't use an inhaler without a spacer as I can't time breathing in with pressing the button.

I was diagnosed just under 3 years ago and have always been told to request a review once I need 3 reliever puffs in a 7 day period. It's in my asthma plan and I have had about 4 additional asthma reviews to date for this reason.

It's a sign that you're at increased risk of an attack my asthma nurse says.

@WrongKindOfFace

Are you supposed to request a review if you use three puff of ventolin in a week? I’ve never been told that. (I’ve also been told to buy my own spacers as they will only prescribe for children. Do most people get them prescribed?)

Only if it’s a regular thing, the other measure is using 1 salbutamol inhaler a month A spacer is probably cheaper than a prescription charge?

Not sure about everyone else but my GP surgery are not interested until you’re quite Unwell, unless you’re wheezing when you go in not interested!

@TolkiensFallow

Thing is.

Electronic records haven’t been about that long. So how are they expecting GP’s to know whether the criteria are met without them requesting the paper files from medical records and trawling through every asthmatic patients history?

What a farce.

This is surely going to cause huge problems for GP’s trying to identify the right patients for vaccine. I personally had several admissions to hospital as a teen but I I’m not sure they will be on my digital medical records. My asthma is otherwise generally well managed and haven’t needed steroids for a few years. I haven’t heard from my GP so I’m assuming I’m not included, didn’t really expect to be to be honest.

I haven't heard anything and I'm probably not included, but I know my GP isn't onto group 6 yet. Any other areas still on group 5?

I have had a spacer prescribed as well. They have always been very responsive when I've made appointments regarding my asthma. To be honest I need a review as I don't think my asthma is well-controlled at the moment but with everything in the news, I'm worried they'd think I'm simply trying to get the vaccine.

I was sent the link to book yesterday and am having my jab next week. I'm on the maximum dose of Seretide 250, Montelukast, Ventolin when needed and Fexofenadine, and (thanks to FIL giving me his cold) have had oral steroids in the last six months. My asthma is very well controlled though so I was expecting to be dropped from group 6, I just wish there wasn't such a wait for the second dose, I can't afford to get this virus with a toddler to look after!

I regularly take more than 3 puffs of salbutamol a week - if I've got a cold then it would often be more than 3 a day.

I have annual asthma reviews but the nurse never changes anything based on them, even the times when I have said that I have been wheezing a lot and my peak flow has been poor. Perhaps that is because I don't go through the inhalers quickly enough to be considered a worry (when I don't have a virus and it isn't hayfever season then I can go weeks between needing salbutamol)

I didn't have a review at all in 2020 because they were face to face and I didn't think it was worth the risk of visiting the GP surgery.

@Bluebelle41

I haven't heard anything and I'm probably not included, but I know my GP isn't onto group 6 yet. Any other areas still on group 5?

I have had a spacer prescribed as well. They have always been very responsive when I've made appointments regarding my asthma. To be honest I need a review as I don't think my asthma is well-controlled at the moment but with everything in the news, I'm worried they'd think I'm simply trying to get the vaccine.

This is my worry too - I don't want to look like I'm making it up to get a vaccine.

Although I always do flag up when I need my reliever more so they know it's my usual MO.

There are two asthma nurses at my surgery who are both very good and they always see me quickly when I ask to see them.

@Peakedin1997

I regularly take more than 3 puffs of salbutamol a week - if I've got a cold then it would often be more than 3 a day.

I have annual asthma reviews but the nurse never changes anything based on them, even the times when I have said that I have been wheezing a lot and my peak flow has been poor. Perhaps that is because I don't go through the inhalers quickly enough to be considered a worry (when I don't have a virus and it isn't hayfever season then I can go weeks between needing salbutamol)

I didn't have a review at all in 2020 because they were face to face and I didn't think it was worth the risk of visiting the GP surgery.

I had to keep using my ventolin when diagnosed and was switched to Fostair after 3 months and Montelukast was added shortly afterwards as I still kept needing my reliever regularly. I had reviews every 2 months for over a year until it stabilised.

Your asthma nurse doesn't sound very good! I would push for a higher dose inhaler, you shouldn't need your reliever inhaler often at all. I used mine last week for the first time in 11 months.

I was doing group 5 today.

@CaffiSaliMali @Bluebelle41 I wouldn't worry about whether they think you're just trying your luck for a vaccine. I know what you mean, but if you need help for your asthma then don't put it off, make sure you are as well controlled as possible.

A spacer costs slightly more than a prescription, but not much. I can’t remember off the top of my head exactly how much. I didn’t realise you’re meant meant to replace them regularly but have bought new ones when the old one falls apart.

I bought an aero chamber spacer over the pharmacy counter from boots for 8.99 recently - marginally cheaper than a prescription unless you're on prepay and quicker than sorting out a review to get a prescription for one.