As winter approaches many people including children find that their asthma symptoms get worse. This is due to a number of reasons including the cold weather, colds, flu, chest infections, damp and mould, dust mites, central heating, open fires, wood burning stoves and now Covid-19 (Source www.asthma.org.uk).

To tackle this, OneNorwich Practices who support 21 GP Practices across Norwich have recruited a paediatric asthma nurse whose focus will be to run a series of asthma clinics across schools in Norwich.

The nurse will perform respiratory checks on children booked into the clinics and will review their asthma action plan with a view to making recommendations and providing information which will help parents and children manage their asthma better during the cold weather. Following the checks the children’s medical records will be updated.

Gina Eyles, Paediatric Asthma Nurse at OneNorwich Practices said “As well as benefiting the children, we are hoping that this project will also reduce the number of visits required to the GP practices and even A&E by ensuring that there is a personal asthma action plan in place and with a little bit of coaching, patients will have confidence that they are using medications correctly which will help keep the asthma under control.”

The first school to hold an asthma clinic is West Earlham Junior School, who OneNorwich Practices are very grateful to for being so accommodating and reaching out to parents informing them that their child would be invited to attend the respiratory check.

The clinics will be rolled out across further Norwich Schools over the next few months, parents are advised to keep an eye open for notification of the clinics which will come to parents directly from the school. Early booking is advised.

Parents are reminded that they should seek medical help immediately in a medical emergency by calling 999. If you’re not sure and would like advice please call 111.