Asthma UK Provides Helping Hand For Pharmacists

Asthma UK is to launch a new resource pack in January to support community pharmacists in England and Wales in helping people with asthma to have a better understanding of their medicines.

The pack, produced in association with PSNC and MIMS, will provide information and advice for pharmacists undertaking Medicine Use Reviews for people with asthma as well as helping people with asthma to understand their medicines. The resource pack will also help to identify any problems they are experiencing, offering possible solutions and includes a supporting leaflet on 'Advice from your pharmacist'.

Over 10,700 packs will be issued to pharmacies throughout England and Wales along with 75,000 leaflets, which will also be available in Welsh. Inhaler technique, asthma medicines and symptoms and triggers as well as advice on what to do in the event of an asthma attack are amongst the key topics explained.

Simon Selo, Assistant Director, Service Development at Asthma UK comments: 'People with asthma have told us that they find MURs incredibly helpful in understanding and managing their asthma more effectively. We hope this pack will both encourage and support community pharmacists to undertake more reviews in the future and encourage people with asthma to seek advice about their condition from their local pharmacist.'

Alastair Buxton, Head of NHS Services at PSNC added: 'We are very pleased to have worked with Asthma UK on the development of this pack. MURs make a big difference to people with asthma, helping them manage their medicines more effectively.'

The packs will be distributed by PSNC to pharmacies in mid January. Most packs will be mailed direct to pharmacies, but some multiple chains will receive bulk deliveries which will then be distributed by internal mail systems.

The 'Advice from your pharmacist' leaflet is to be given prior to the MUR.

Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK who have asthma. We work with people with asthma, healthcare professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to help people increase their understanding and reduce the effect of asthma on their lives.

Visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk