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Original poster

111 won't give dd an emergency prescription for ventolin

29 replies

Optunia · 01/12/2024 14:21

Dd (age 24) is asthmatic. She's just coming out the end of a cold and woke up this morning and realised she was really wheezy. She looked for her blue inhaler and couldn't find it. She lives above a chemist so they told her to phone 111 and get them to issue an emergency prescription. She doesn't feel sick anymore so is pretty sure it's not an infection but it has just left her badly wheezing (which isn't unusual for her post a cold).

She called 111 and they told her to go to A and E. She said no because she doesn't think it's a life of death situation and asked them to reconsider particularly as she lives above a chemist and she would need to get public transport to hospital which means walking etc. They agreed to get a doctor to call back within the hour. The doctor said they will not prescribe the inhaler as she hasn't had an asthma review in 12 months (when she's moved house twice and hasn't been called to one).

I'm sitting here in disbelief. Surely the sensible thing would be to prescribe the inhaler today and she sees the doctor next week (which she has agreed to do?!).

No wonder A and E is so busy if they send people there so easily!

OP posts:
Mickey79 · 01/12/2024 14:43

I think 111 have done the right thing. Asthma should be taken seriously and your daughter has suddenly woken up very wheezy, despite having been stable ( she hasn’t needed to book herself an asthma review in > 12 months). She could be experiencing an exacerbation of asthma and it is impossible to determine the severity over the phone. A face to face consultation is very sensible.

Twoanddonethanku · 01/12/2024 14:44

You can get it prescribed online, eg from Superdrug

Peridot1 · 01/12/2024 14:46

And yet you can buy Ventolin inhalers over the counter in Australia…….

Could she try just popping down to the chemist and ask if they would let her have one without a current prescription ut give them her Gp’s details? I did that once in Ireland with a sudden allergic reaction a cat and didn’t have any Ventolin with me.

TwoBlueFish · 01/12/2024 14:47

Do you have a walk in clinic or minor injuries nearby? My brother visited a couple of years ago and lost his inhaler. The walk in centre were able to prescribe a new one. Then phone tomorrow morning and get an appointment for an asthma review.

woffley · 01/12/2024 14:49

Do you know anyone else with asthma? Most would have a spare or two or three. Maybe she could borrow one?

Original poster
Optunia · 01/12/2024 14:51

She went back to the chemist but told them (well they asked about what 111 had said) that 111 wouldn't give her a prescription so now the chemist won't either

Yes I come from a country where you buy them over the counter so this is a bit of a surprise!

She's got an appointment with a private GP for 9am tomorrow just in case she can't get an appointment with the NHS one tomorrow (as it often takes days to get one - it's that system where you call at 830am and hope to get through before they run out of slots)

OP posts:
Sunnnybunny72 · 01/12/2024 14:59

Going forward the new asthma guidelines last month are pushing towards a move away from blue inhalers. Get her to have an asthma review and ask about switching to a MART regime where a combined inhaler with steroid and long acting relivever is used twice daily and also as a reliever in place of the blue. It treats the cause of the symptoms which a blue doesn't do. People are less likely to exacerbate on this regime.
There are five deaths every day in this country from asthma, most of which are people who only have a blue inhaler and class their asthma as 'mild'.

SapphireOpal · 01/12/2024 15:01

Why hasn't she gone to A&E, given that's what 111 told her to do?

KnittedCardi · 01/12/2024 15:14

DD doesn't have asthma, but she was prescribed an inhaler, as she is prone to getting wheezy after coughs/colds. It's incredibly difficult to get a replacement as she is at uni. So she went without.

bringmelaughter · 01/12/2024 15:21

Most deaths from asthma are linked with chaotic use of reliever inhalers. A face to face review is appropriate. If she absolutely won’t go to A&E, 111 may feel it appropriate to book an urgent care appointment (usually GP led). She could call back to see if they think that’s possible.

BecauseRonald · 01/12/2024 15:28

Sunnnybunny72 · 01/12/2024 14:59

Going forward the new asthma guidelines last month are pushing towards a move away from blue inhalers. Get her to have an asthma review and ask about switching to a MART regime where a combined inhaler with steroid and long acting relivever is used twice daily and also as a reliever in place of the blue. It treats the cause of the symptoms which a blue doesn't do. People are less likely to exacerbate on this regime.
There are five deaths every day in this country from asthma, most of which are people who only have a blue inhaler and class their asthma as 'mild'.

Dd had a review a few months ago and she's off the brown inhaler and onto the new regime. However the new combined inhaler comes with an upper limit of 8 puffs a day and the nurse was categorical that DD must keep a blue inhaler at hand for emergency relief / during an asthma attack / while you get help.

I think 111 should have prescribed the inhaler AND advised to go to a&e. I hope your DD feels better soon OP.

Wafup · 01/12/2024 15:33

Coffee often helps mine. As opens airways

LIZS · 01/12/2024 15:36

Agree i have a combi inhaler and a blue reliever for emergency use

Theunamedcat · 01/12/2024 15:39

Whilst it's ideal for her to have an asthma review surely the prudent thing to do would be prescribe the inhaler as an emergency measure and send her Dr a message to book a review I cannot see the reasons behind A&E unless they continue to be unwell after the blue inhaler!

Mickey79 · 01/12/2024 15:44

Theunamedcat · 01/12/2024 15:39

Whilst it's ideal for her to have an asthma review surely the prudent thing to do would be prescribe the inhaler as an emergency measure and send her Dr a message to book a review I cannot see the reasons behind A&E unless they continue to be unwell after the blue inhaler!

I wonder if they had no gp appts available via 111 and a f2f is needed to be able to examine the ops dd. A and E then becomes the default.

Floralnomad · 01/12/2024 15:47

She should go to A&E as she’s been told . What preventer does she take ? You really should get her to A&E , asthma kills .

NannyR · 01/12/2024 15:52

Optunia · 01/12/2024 14:51

She went back to the chemist but told them (well they asked about what 111 had said) that 111 wouldn't give her a prescription so now the chemist won't either

Yes I come from a country where you buy them over the counter so this is a bit of a surprise!

She's got an appointment with a private GP for 9am tomorrow just in case she can't get an appointment with the NHS one tomorrow (as it often takes days to get one - it's that system where you call at 830am and hope to get through before they run out of slots)

In my experience, GPs are usually very good at seeing people with asthma, even if all the appointments are taken. Has she been keeping an eye on her peak flow readings as this will give the GP an idea of how urgently she needs to be seen.

AnnaMagnani · 01/12/2024 15:54

No asthma review in 12 months
Can't find a reliever inhaler
Significantly more wheezy after a cold

TBH these are all red flags that she needs a F2F review, rather than just a script for a new Ventolin.

I have asthma and if I ring my GP surgery saying my asthma is worse they have always given me a same day appt, even though I know what I'm doing now and we could sort it on the phone. Asthma should always be taken very seriously.

blackcatsarethebestcats · 01/12/2024 15:55

She should go to A&E to be on the safe side.

Floralnomad · 01/12/2024 16:14

The issue with just giving out prescriptions without seeing her is that Dr could be held responsible if something happened to her .

woffley · 01/12/2024 16:42

Sunnnybunny72 · 01/12/2024 14:59

Going forward the new asthma guidelines last month are pushing towards a move away from blue inhalers. Get her to have an asthma review and ask about switching to a MART regime where a combined inhaler with steroid and long acting relivever is used twice daily and also as a reliever in place of the blue. It treats the cause of the symptoms which a blue doesn't do. People are less likely to exacerbate on this regime.
There are five deaths every day in this country from asthma, most of which are people who only have a blue inhaler and class their asthma as 'mild'.

When you have stable asthma controlled by combined inhalers there is still a need to have a reliever for occasional use. I might go months without needing mine but just like the OP's DD when I get a virus I need it.

Ringpeace · 01/12/2024 17:11

Hell's teeth, she needs to follow the advice and go to A&E. I had an asthma flare up earlier this year that I tried to treat with my blue inhaler after I was very wheezy.

Long story short - ended up on a nebuliser in A&E, with low oxygen levels. Staff there took it very seriously.

Sunnnybunny72 · 02/12/2024 18:34

woffley with the new guidelines the combined inhaler is used the reliever too as long as it contains formoterol. It works as quickly, lasts longer and you are getting a shot of inhaled steroid to dampen down the inflammation. A blue inhaler does nothing for that.

Original poster
Optunia · 02/12/2024 19:55

Thanks all - she saw a wonderful private GP this morning who did exactly as @Sunnnybunny72 suggested and prescribed her the pink inhaler. She also called her local GP but didn't get an appointment for today but they can fit her in with the asthma nurse early next year (!) so that they can record it in her NHS records again. And thanks for telling me this @Sunnnybunny72 as I armed her with the info but turns out she didn't need it as he suggested it to her before she mentioned it!

She worked abroad for a year and then moved twice and because of that she hadn't been to the asthma nurse so had been taken off the list (which is bizarre as she is a life long asthmatic) which is why no one would prescribe it for her. Hopefully it will be easier next time.

OP posts:
woffley · 02/12/2024 21:16

@Sunnnybunny72 thanks. I've been having an ongoing issue with my surgery about my inhaler. I want a dry powder one as I've they are more effective. I'll bring it up again at my next review whenever that is.