"GP:Practice Comment"

Dear 'Anonymous',

You are writing about a potentially complex clinical matter and we cannot really get into a discussion about your personal medical condition on this public site. You are far better discussing it with a doctor in the surgery – we shall then be able to explain to you the reasons behind the clinical decision making and discuss your concerns.

Diagnosing asthma relies on certain well-recognised criteria and I am glad you had the spirometry assessment from our nurses at the surgery. This computer assisted diagnostic test is one of the standard ways we diagnose asthma and follows a strict evidence based protocol which is nationally – and internationally - used. We often find people have been ‘diagnosed‘ with asthma in the past or from other countries using other methods which are no longer considered acceptable and some of these people have no evidence of asthma or suffer from other conditions such as COPD. People sometimes use inhalers inappropriately and this can be dangerous. Getting the diagnosis right is vitally important, as I am sure you understand.

You mentioned an ‘expert in pulmonology’. The vast majority of patients with asthma in the UK are treated in general practice and do not need referral to a lung specialist. Our GPs , practice nurses and healthcare assistants are thoroughly trained in the latest asthma care protocols and are very experienced in the diagnosis and management, so you can be confident you will receive the best care that the national guidelines define.

Obtaining supplies of salbutamol from urgent care clinics may be hazardous without ongoing monitoring and management and I would urge you to make an appointment to come and discuss your personal case with a GP at the surgery.