Dear Friend,

Well, it has been an interesting few months to say the least!  Like you, we’ve all had to adjust to a rapidly evolving situation and finally it looks like we are returning to something resembling the ‘new normal’. I am sure we all share a certain relief as we have re-connected with our family, friends and colleagues. I am proud of my team here at Asthma WA as they embraced all the changes enabling us to continue to provide our services without a hitch throughout COVID-19 environment.

But before I go much further, I need to ask...how are you doing?

Many of us continue to experience some anxiety, as the threat of COVID-19 has not yet completely passed, and it may still take some time to do so. If you are concerned about your asthma or COPD, or want to know how you may be affected by COVID-19 or the flu, we are still here for you. Our Respiratory Health Team have been referred to as ‘counsellors’ over recent months, as we listen to people’s stories and share their concerns and ask questions about their respiratory condition and keeping safe. Please remember that we are just a free telephone call away if you need us, and our telehealth service is also available.

You’ve heard it plenty of times already, but please continue good hand hygiene and maintain social distancing where you can. It’s not a bad habit for all of us to stick to going forward.

This month, we wanted to mix things up a little and have a bit of fun. So, while we update you on what has been happening with our services and changes to medication listings, we’d also like to bring some light to your day. I hope you enjoy the read.

With best wishes for health and happiness,

Symbicort is now PBS listed

Do you have mild asthma? Has your doctor prescribed you reliever medication to treat your mild asthma symptoms? From the 1st June 2020, Symbicort Turbuhaler 200/6 and Symbicort Rapihaler 100/3 are now PBS listed for all asthma severities – mild, moderate and severe and available to Australians from 12 years and over.

Recently, we spoke with John Blakey, Respiratory Physician, to find out what it all means.

Asthma Exercises

You don’t need to do a lot. Simple activities such as going for a walk or bike ride can make a big difference.

Remember to always have your reliever with you when exercising. If your asthma symptoms flare up, follow your Asthma Action Plan and do not hesitate to commence Asthma First Aid.

Have you joined the Asthma Alert community yet?

Launched in March this year, the Asthma Alert Facebook Group aims to reduce the impact that smoke has on the lives of people who may be living with or caring for someone with asthma or other respiratory conditions, particularly where smoke is known to be a trigger for them.

The community has grown over the last few months, with members sharing their local alerts to help prevent potentially life-threatening asthma attacks in the community. If you or someone you care about has asthma or COPD and smoke is an issue for them, we invite you to join the Asthma Alert community to hear about local smoke updates and learn more about asthma and COPD management.

Not on Facebook? That’s ok! As this is a pilot program, we are doing our best to provide a service of value while also learning what people in our community need. To help those who are not on Facebook, we have created a list of resources on our website that may help you be better prepared in a smoke event.

Asthma Alert is a pilot program funded by the Australian Commonwealth Government and supported by the WA State Emergency Management Committee. The Asthma Alert pilot has been developed in consultation with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’Parks and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Department of Health in Western Australia.

Are you stuck at home and unable to do your essential shopping?

A new free essential shopping delivery service, Cahoots Connects, has been launched to help Western Australians who may have heightened risk from COVID-19 to safely and easily get their shopping essentials ordered and delivered.

The service currently operates in Perth metro, Mandurah and Bunbury and will be expanding to other regions of the state over the coming weeks.

The service is endorsed by the Department of Communities and Minister Stephen Dawson MLC.

The word on the grapevine

Every day we see the power of education and how it can improve your quality of life, but don’t just take our word for it, here’s what some people said about our education sessions; 

• My teleconference was very helpful and set me on a pathway to improved health with my asthma. I was impressed with the concern and information given.
• The education sessions are fantastic. It's great for kids to learn about their condition and be shown how they can take control and manage it with help from parents and health care providers.
• My son’s asthma is very mild and seasonal. We are more mindful to ensure we always carry his Ventolin now thanks to our interaction with you this year. Thanks.
• You guys are doing a great job especially communicating to the kids.

Your survey results also supported this with;

• 82% saying they learnt new information about asthma,
• 70% saying they now manage their asthma in a different way,
• 67% saying they have a better understanding of their triggers, and
• 56% saying their symptoms improved after their education session.

If you haven’t booked in for one of our free education sessions before, or you’d like a review of your asthma or COPD management plan, call 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462), you might just learn something new that could have a positive impact on your everyday life.

We sincerely thank the CBH Group who generously donated $10,000 to support our telehealth services, enabling people living in regional areas of Western Australia to better access their medical appointments and education. Our Asthma and COPD Telehealth service can help people save time, money and stress on unnecessary travel. It is through the support of organisations such as CBH Group that we are able to continue these valuable services to people throughout the Western Australian Community, and we cannot thank you enough!

Photo credit: Jackie Grylls, Corrigin