Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to tackle over-reliance on short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) by asthma patients.
Respiratory disease is a clinical priority of the NHS Long Term Plan, acknowledging medicines optimisation as a key intervention for people with respiratory disease. Pharmacists in primary care networks will also undertake a range of medicine reviews, including educating patients on the correct use of inhalers.
The Quality and Outcomes Framework ensures all practices establish and maintain a register of patients with an asthma diagnosis in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.