Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in Ireland, affecting approximately 450,000 people and one in ten children. Despite the availability of effective treatments, asthma control remains suboptimal for many patients. Poorly managed asthma can have life-threatening consequences, in addition to imposing significant social, financial, and emotional burdens on patients and families. The cost of asthma to society in 2021 was estimated at €1.2 billion.

Community pharmacists are at the forefront of healthcare delivery. Every day, patients living with asthma walk into pharmacies for prescriptions, inhaler refills, or over-the-counter advice. These interactions offer unique opportunities to reinforce asthma education, spot issues such as poor inhaler technique, medication non-adherence, or SABA overuse and direct patients towards resources that can improve their quality of life.

The Asthma Society of Ireland provides a range of free services and resources designed to complement the care delivered by community pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. These services empower patients to manage their condition more effectively while easing pressures on the wider healthcare system. This article outlines the supports available to patients, with a particular focus on how community pharmacists can engage with them to improve outcomes.

The Asthma Society of Ireland’s new website

The Asthma Society’s redesigned website, asthma.ie, serves as a comprehensive hub for people with asthma, their families, and healthcare professionals.

Key features for community pharmacists and patients include:

• Inhaler technique videos: Poor inhaler technique is one of the most common reasons for poor asthma control. The website provides step-by-step demonstration videos for all major inhaler devices available in Ireland, as well as guides for patients and healthcare professionals. These resources are invaluable for community pharmacists to share with patients as a follow-up after an in-pharmacy demonstration, ensuring that technique can be reinforced at home;
• Asthma Action Plan templates: Personalised action plans are a cornerstone of effective asthma management. Patients and their healthcare providers can download templates to guide day-to-day self-management and identify when additional care is needed;
• Patient education resources: Infographics, webinars, and factsheets cover topics ranging from trigger management to exercise, smoking cessation, and medication adherence. These can be recommended by community pharmacists during consultations to reinforce key health messages; and
• Healthcare professional section: The website also hosts resources designed for pharmacists, GPs, nurses, and consultants, ensuring that professionals have access to the most up-to-date information and guidelines.

Asthma Adviceline (Freephone 1800 44 54 64)

The Asthma Adviceline aims to help patients recognise and manage symptoms, optimise medication use, and reduce unscheduled healthcare visits.

The Adviceline is not an emergency service. It is staffed, managed and governed by medical experts on behalf of the Asthma Society of Ireland and provides evidence-based education and support. It does not offer clinical diagnosis or treatment. It is free and confidential.

What patients can expect:

• A one-to-one consultation with a respiratory nurse or physiotherapist;
• Guidance on correct medication use and inhaler technique;
• Support in understanding and using an Asthma Action Plan;
• Advice on lifestyle, triggers, and exercise; and
• Reassurance and problem-solving between GP or hospital appointments.

For community pharmacists, the Adviceline represents a trusted referral option when patients require additional time, support, or reassurance that cannot be provided in a busy community pharmacy setting.

WhatsApp Nurse Messaging Service

Recognising the need for quick and convenient access to advice, the Asthma Society has also developed a secure and confidential WhatsApp nurse messaging service, available at 086 059 0132.

Patients can send a message to the dedicated number and receive tailored advice from a respiratory nurse without the need for a full consultation. The service also allows nurses to share digital resources directly, such as inhaler demonstration videos, infographics, or links to webinars.

This service is particularly useful for patients who may feel more comfortable communicating via text rather than phone. It also ensures that educational resources are literally at the patient’s fingertips, available to revisit or share with family members at any time.

E-Referral platform for healthcare professionals

A key recent addition to the Asthma Society website is the e-referral platform, available at asthma.ie > Health professionals > Patient referral.

Healthcare professionals (including pharmacists) can now directly refer patients to the Asthma Adviceline. This is particularly useful when a community pharmacist identifies issues such as:

• Lack of, or outdated Asthma or MART Action Plans;
• Frequent reliance on reliever inhalers;
• Signs of poor adherence or confusion about medication;
• Anxiety or lack of confidence in self-management;
• Recent asthma flare-ups or unscheduled healthcare visits; or
• Poor inhaler technique despite repeated demonstrations.

The referral process is straightforward; complete the short online form, and the Asthma Society will arrange for a nurse to call the patient back at a convenient time. By making referrals, community pharmacists extend the continuum of care, ensuring patients receive comprehensive support beyond the community pharmacy.

Healthcare professional newsletter

The Asthma Society publishes a regular newsletter for healthcare professionals, providing updates on:

• New resources available for patients and professionals;
• Upcoming events, training opportunities, and webinars; and
• Insights from Adviceline data on common patient challenges and seasonal trends.

Community pharmacists who subscribe can ensure they remain informed on developments in asthma care and have timely resources to share with patients. You can subscribe to this newsletter at asthma.ie > Health professionals.

Asthma Society webinar series

The Asthma Society of Ireland runs a series of highly successful webinars throughout the year, designed to support both people with asthma and the healthcare professionals who care for them. These webinars are free to attend and provide an accessible, interactive way to engage with leading respiratory experts on a wide range of topics.

Objectives of the webinar series:

• Provide accessible education and support to help people with asthma better understand and manage their condition;
• Offer guidance through a digital channel, reaching younger people with asthma and their families in particular;
• Empower patients to engage more confidently with community pharmacists, GPs, and other healthcare professionals;
• Signpost to appropriate services and resources, ensuring attendees leave with practical tools and follow-up supports;
• Deliver tailored information to parents and carers of children with asthma; and
• Provide structured self-management support through digital health resources.

For community pharmacists, these webinars can be an excellent resource to recommend to patients who are seeking additional information outside of the community pharmacy setting. They can also serve as a valuable source of continuing education, helping community pharmacists to stay up to date on asthma management, patient perspectives, and emerging best practice.

Recordings of previous webinars are available on asthma.ie, making them a flexible and convenient option for both patients and healthcare professionals. Community pharmacists may find it useful to direct patients to webinars on topics such as asthma and children, asthma and exercise, winter wellness, asthma and allergies.

Webinars are advertised on the Asthma Society website, social media channels, and via the patient and healthcare professionals newsletters. They are also sent to patients directly via our WhatsApp messaging service.

Benefits of Asthma Society supports for community pharmacists and patients

1. Enhancing patient education and self-management: Community pharmacists frequently have to revisit basic asthma education with patients, especially regarding inhaler technique. Referring to the Adviceline or WhatsApp services ensures patients get additional dedicated time with respiratory experts, reinforcing messages and empowering them to manage their asthma more effectively;
2. Reducing unscheduled healthcare visits: Poor control, incorrect inhaler use, or failure to follow an Asthma Action Plan often result in unnecessary GP or emergency department visits. Early intervention through the Society’s supports can help patients recognise warning signs and take appropriate action before symptoms escalate;
3. Evidence-based support and adherence to guidelines: The advice provided by the Asthma Society aligns with both national and GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) guidelines. Community pharmacists can be confident that patients are receiving consistent, evidence-based guidance that complements prescribed treatment plans. Furthermore, the Asthma Society’s Medical Advisory group guides and oversees services and resources with expert clinical advice. It is made up of leading respiratory consultants, GPs, nurse specialists, and community pharmacists. They ensure that information, services and advocacy are medically accurate and evidence-based;
4. Extending the impact of community pharmacy: Community pharmacists play a vital role in patient education, but are often constrained by time and workload. The Society’s services effectively act as an extension of the pharmacist’s care, particularly valuable in rural or resource-limited settings; and
5. Data and insights to inform practice: Aggregated data from the Asthma Adviceline helps identify patient concerns and seasonal trends. This information can guide public health messaging and support community pharmacists in anticipating patient needs, such as increased demand for advice during peak pollen seasons.

Measurable impact

Recent evaluation data underscores the value of the Asthma Adviceline:

• 100 per cent of users reported improved confidence in managing their asthma;
• 97 per cent were satisfied with the knowledge and experience of the nurse/physiotherapist;
• 100 per cent would recommend the service to others;
• 77 per cent discussed their Asthma Action Plan with their GP following a call;
• 53 per cent reported a reduction in unplanned GP visits; and
• 50 per cent reported fewer emergency department visits.

These outcomes highlight how empowering patients with knowledge and support translates directly into reduced pressure on the wider healthcare system.

How community pharmacists can get involved

Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between clinical care and self-management. To integrate Asthma Society supports into practice, pharmacists can:

1. Refer patients directly via the e-referral platform;
2. Promote the Adviceline by sharing the Freephone number (1800 44 54 64);
3. Encourage patients to use the WhatsApp service (086 059 0132) for quick, reliable advice;
4. Demonstrate and recommend inhaler videos on asthma.ie;
5. Subscribe to the healthcare professional newsletter to stay up to date with resources and events; and
6. Follow and share the Asthma Society’s social media channels to amplify awareness of available supports.

Conclusion

Asthma remains a major health challenge in Ireland, but with the right supports, patients can achieve good control and live symptom-free lives. Community pharmacists are critical to this mission. By integrating the Asthma Society of Ireland’s free services — including the Adviceline, WhatsApp messaging service, e-referral platform, and educational resources — community pharmacists can extend their impact, reduce avoidable healthcare use, and most importantly, empower patients to take control of their condition.

Together, we can ensure that every person with asthma in Ireland has access to the knowledge, skills, and support they need to breathe easier.

Social handles and contact information

• Website: asthma.ie
• Facebook: facebook.com/asthmasocietyireland
• Twitter/X: twitter.com/asthmasociety
• Instagram: instagram.com/asthmasocietyireland
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/asthma-society-of-ireland