Overview
The UKCPA Respiratory Committee regularly advocate for patients and the profession.
In 2021 the Committee were a co-signature on a joint letter to the UK Public Health Minister expressing concerns about the Philip Morris International (PMI) takeover of Vectura, an inhaler company who have contributed to the development of products that are used extensively by people with COPD and asthma.
In 2016 they advised that inhaled medicines should be prescribed by brand name to ensure that patients receive the correct inhaler device and prevent inadvertent device switches. This led to a recommendation in the British Thoracic Society / SIGN Asthma 2016 guidelines.
In 2014 they led and coordinated a multi-organisational approach to advise GlaxoSmithKline to change the colour of a new inhaler which they felt could cause confusion and lead to prescribing or administration errors. GlaxoSmithKline welcomed the advice and the colour of the inhaler was changed.
Achievements
The UKCPA Respiratory Committee were a co-signature on a joint letter to the UK Public Health Minister expressing concerns about the Philip Morris International (PMI) takeover of Vectura, an inhaler company who have contributed to the development of products that are used extensively by people with COPD and asthma.
The Committee led on and co-ordinated a multi-organisational approach to advise GlaxoSmithKline to change the colour of Relvar Ellipta® from blue to yellow.
The advice highlighted concerns around the association of the colour blue as a reliever inhaler, and the similarity of the Relvar® brand name to the term “reliever”, which could cause confusion and lead to prescribing errors or for patients to take additional doses during the day. GSK welcomed the advice and the colour of the inhaler was changed.
The Committee were the first organisation to publicly advise that inhaled medicines should be prescribed by brand name to ensure that patients receive the correct inhaler device and prevent inadvertent device switches.
The Committee worked with the UK Inhaler Group to reinforce this position. As a result, the British Thoracic Society / SIGN Asthma 2016 guidelines made a good practice recommendation stating that “Generic prescribing of inhalers should be avoided as this might lead to people with asthma being given an unfamiliar inhaler device which they are not able to use properly.”
get involved
Speakers and tutors for learning events, including conference workshops, masterclasses and webinars
We are looking for practitioner members who can comment on national consultations
Members who have a flair for writing to produce articles for Rx Magazine which is owned by UKCPA
