Alyn Family Doctors Latest News

Greener inhalers

This year, the Welsh Government has asked all GPs to look at improving the carbon footprint of their inhaler prescribing. Inhalers account for 3-4% of the whole NHS carbon footprint.

Many patients with asthma use metered dose inhalers (MDIs), which contain hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) propellants that are potent greenhouse gases, 1,000 – 3,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. In the UK, approximately 70% of inhalers used are MDIs, which is much higher than many other European countries.

Over the next year, as you attend for your regular asthma or COPD review, our nurses will be talking to you about trialling greener alternatives, called DPIs or dry powder inhalers, as part of your asthma care. You will be supported through this by our nursing staff to make sure that you are prescribed the inhaler that’s right for you. Inhaler technique is key to getting the best out of your medication, and many local pharmacies now also offer the opportunity to assist you with this.

The best thing you can do for the environment is to keep your asthma under control by making sure you’re taking your inhalers correctly and making sure you take your preventer medicine regularly as prescribed.

If you find you’re needing your reliever inhalers often, or you’re not taking your preventer regularly, please request an asthma review appointment with our nurses by filling in a Klinik request online or telephoning the surgery.

More advice on inhaler technique can be found at www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/livingwith/inhaler-videos

Self-book

We are trialling a new self-booking system at the surgery. After your appointment request has been triaged by a GP and given an urgency rating, you may now receive a text message from us with the option to choose an appropriate appointment at a day, time and location which suits you best.