Do you or someone you know use an inhaler?

Don’t waste a
breath

Facts

  • NHS Grampian Spends £10.3 million per year* on inhalers for asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other respiratory disorders. 
  • That’s 10% of the total spend on medicines in primary care (This excludes medicines used in hospitals). This equates to 423,440 prescriptions per year. 

Local research has shown:

  • 7 out of 10 inhalers that are returned for disposal are not empty.***
  • 2 in 10 returned completely full.***
  • The average cost of a combined steroid and reliever inhaler ranges from £30 to £59 per inhaler.**
  • The average cost of a steroid-only inhaler ranges from £5 to £38 per inhaler.**
  • The average cost of a short acting reliever inhaler ranges from £1.50 to £6.00 per inhaler.**

Check the price of your inhaler here

*Data taken from PRISMS - October 2013 to September 2014
**Inhaler costs vary according to drug, device and strength
***Data taken from GSK/NHS Grampian local audit

The total amount NHS Grampian spends on inhalers is increasing year on year: