Inhaler obstacle race

IT’S suggested that anti-asthma preventer and reliever inhalers should be plentiful and your GP won’t mind you asking (letters).

I was diagnosed with asthma ten years ago, but it’s difficult to get inhalers from my GP. If I ask for more than two in four months, the surgery asks why I need them. If I run out of inhalers, it makes me wait three days to get a repeat prescription, often leaving me with no inhaler at all.

The asthma clinic (a 15-minute appointment with the practice nurse) is useless. I have to take a day off work to attend, as it doesn’t have any appointments outside office hours, but I’m obliged to attend to get my inhalers.

The nurse repeats the same questions every time: ‘Show me how you use your inhaler? How much do you weigh?’

No useful advice or information is offered. My pharmacist tells me I’m managing my asthma well, but I know I’m just lucky I haven’t had a severe attack. I’m not surprised people are dying of asthma.

When I visit Europe, I buy inhalers over the counter for £2 to £3, which is much cheaper than on prescription in Britain — and I don’t have to attend pointless appointments.

This medicine is life- saving: why isn’t it free or at least at the same cost as it can be bought over the counter in other countries?

ELAINE STRuDWICK, Purley, Surrey.