Having had asthma basically all my life one thing I have come to realise is the importance of your relationship with your GP or asthma nurse. For many they are the front line for you and your asthma care.
I am so fortunate to have a GP who is really understanding and although she finds my asthma baffling she will listen to me and help me when and where she can. Little things like making sure my medications are prescribed correctly, I get my flu jab etc. They also have various flags on their file on the system- this helps so much.
Many dread the phone call into the GP to try and get an appointment because their chest is not good but you have to get passed the gate keepers- the reception staff!!! Before the flags were on the system I used to have great difficulty trying to explain the importance of being seen promptly because my asthma goes off so quickly. It was a nightmare- I understand why they need to do it as appointments are short for the number of patients that need to be seen but when it is asthma it can be different.
After a bad experience not being able to get an appointment on the day because the reception staff thought it could wait, I ended up in hospital! During my follow up appointment with my GP which because I had been in hospital I was able to arrange via the reception staff, my GP was slightly irritated at me not being seen as it is important and could prevent hospital admissions.
Since that follow up appointment there is a flag which says if I am phoning in about my asthma I am to be seen by either my GP or one of the nurse practitioners who know my chest very well. There is also a flag that if I say I need antibiotics I can have a phone call rather than appointment and a final flag that if I feel I need to go to hospital they are to call the respiratory reg on call and arrange this.
Having these flags has made such a difference and offered a sense of security as I know if my asthma is bad then I will be dealt with urgently. Obviously if I call about something else I would need to wait just like everyone else.
I realise I am very fortunate to have all this set up. I wanted to highlight it so that others can ask their GP surgeries about this to help them manage their asthma better as it is a huge stressor when you asthma is bad and not able to get the help. Something so simple as a flag can make the world of difference.
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 