Faulty asthma inhalers recalled

THOUSANDS of asthma patients could be at risk from faulty inhalers that contain too few doses.

Health officials last night issued an urgent recall of more than 6,000 devices made by GlaxoSmithKline. The manufacturing error might mean that patients having an asthma attack could reach for their inhaler only to find it had run out too early.

Dr Andy Whittamore of the Asthma UK charity said: ‘It is extremely worrying that some people with asthma may have faulty inhalers. It could put people’s lives at risk.’

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency advised patients to check whether they have a faulty device.

The affected products are Ventolin Accuhaler lots 786G and 754P and lot number 5K8W of the Seretide Accuhaler.