Asthma suffers can now buy blue inhalers from Asda Pharmacies without prescription

Asthma sufferers will now be able to buy blue inhalers from Asda Pharmacy without a prescription.

At the end of July, Asda became the first supermarket to offer the inhalers without a prescription.

Sufferers over the age of 16, can visit any Asda Pharmacy and buy two blue inhalers for £7.

Before purchase, a qualified pharmacist will first give customers an assessment.

The blue inhalers open up the airways for relief and comfort, as asthma symptoms can cause tightness of the chest and shortness of breath.

Deputy Superintendent Pharmacist at Asda, Faisal Tuddy, said: “Asthma is a condition that affects millions of UK residents and it can often prove to be stressful trying to book a GP appointment when your inhaler is running low. We have listened to our customers and it was clear that easier access to asthma relief is the most desirable service we could provide, ensuring sufferers receive the very best advice at the lowest cost. Customers simply need to visit an Asda Pharmacy, fill in a questionnaire with one of our registered pharmacists and they can receive the treatment within a matter of minutes.”

Patients will be limited to two blue inhalers every eight weeks under Asda’s PGD (Patient Group Direction).

Those who will be unable to use this service include:

·       Patients who are pregnant
·       Patients who are breastfeeding
·       Patients taking beta blocker medication such as propranolol
·       Patients who are allergic to salbutamol
·       Patients who are using their salbutamol inhaler more than twice a day
·       Patients who have used the asthma service and have received two inhalers within the past eight weeks