REVIEW

Emergency asthma inhalers in school

R Reading¹, T Jones², C Upton²

¹ School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, UK
² Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK

Correspondence to:
Correpondence to:
Dr R Reading, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK;
r.reading{at}uea.ac.uk

Despite there being a lack of direct evidence of the effectiveness of providing emergency inhalers to schools, the balance of evidence at present suggests the benefits outweigh any possible harm. However, unless UK prescribing law or its interpretation is changed, this will remain an action which opens teachers, nurses, and doctors to possible legal and professional sanctions, and may nullify their institutional or professional indemnity. As a consequence, provision will remain patchy and research into the value of emergency inhalers will be inhibited. A position statement from one or more responsible organisations such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the British Thoracic Society, or the British Paediatric Respiratory Society could persuade a reassessment from the Medicines Control Agency. This is also an issue which could be addressed in the forthcoming National Service Framework for children.

Keywords: asthma; school; emergency inhaler; prescribing policy

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Newbould, J, Francis, S-A, Smith, F (2007). Young people's experiences of managing asthma and diabetes at school. Arch. Dis. Child. 92: 1077-1081 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Reading, R (2005). Managing medication in schools. Arch. Dis. Child. 90: 1253-1255 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Heap, E, Kalra, D, Moore, A, Rayner, R, Ross, K R (2004). Emergency asthma inhalers in schools. Arch. Dis. Child. 89: 590-590 [Full Text]  

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Emergency asthma inhalers in schools

Keith R Ross, et al.

ADC Online, 1 Jul 2003 [Full text]

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Richard Reading, et al.

ADC Online, 17 Jul 2003 [Full text]