Asthma resources.
Devon Formulary and Referral on Asthma
The Devon Formulary is produced in collaboration with NHS Devon, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, and Livewell Southwest. Promoting safe, effective, and economic prescribing in primary and secondary care. Providing guidance on locally recommended drug choices.
North and East Devon Formulary and Referral
South and West Devon Formulary and Referral
Please click on either of the links above to view the formularies.
Understanding your asthma medication
Asthma medicines help prevent asthma attacks. The Asthma + Lung UK webpage How is asthma treated? provides guidance on how your inhalers work. It is important that you understand how your inhalers work and that you have your inhaler technique checked regularly by a healthcare professional. This will ensure that you are getting the most from your inhaler.
Asthma + Lung UK exists to stop asthma attacks and, ultimately, cure asthma by funding world leading research. They work campaigning for change and supporting people with asthma to reduce their risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.
Asthma + Lung UK easy to read leaflet – All about asthma
Action plans for adults and children
AIR asthma action plan – for adults and children over 12 years old
MART asthma action plan – for adults and children over 12 years old
MART asthma action plan – adults, young people and parents of children with asthma
Adult asthma action plan – for adults and children over 12 years old, using separate preventer and reliever inhalers
Child asthma action plan – for children aged six to 11
Asthma action plans in different languages – Asthma + Lung UK
Peak flow diary
The peak expiratory flow test or PEF is a lung function test to measure how fast you can breathe out. To use, the patient needs to take a full breath in and then blow out as fast as they can into a plastic tube called a peak flow meter. The measurement taken is called ‘peak flow’. Also, your GP or asthma nurse might advise you to record your daily peak flow scores and any symptoms you may suffer with.
Information on the peak flow diary
BTS/NICE/SIGN British Guidelines on the Management of Asthma
For more information on the BTS/NICE/SIGN collaborative guideline click here. Detailed guidance covering the entire asthma pathway, including acute or severe asthma is available here. The BTS/NICE/SIGN patient decision aid on asthma inhalers and climate change is available here.
Devon Formulary management of people aged 12 years and older with an existing diagnosis of asthma
In-check® device
The In-check® is a device for measuring inspiratory (breathing in) flow.
GPs, asthma nurses or pharmacists may use it as a simple way to monitor a patient’s inspiratory flow rate and to assess their technique for using an inhaler.
Inhaler technique reminder cards
These cards provide useful information on how to use different types of inhalers.
Contacts for placebo inhalers
Download a list of contacts to order placebo inhaler devices.
