Prescribing of SABA plus LABA without ICS

Right Decisions
Respiratory : Quality prescribing strategy - a guide for improvement
Asthma
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Prescribing issues to address
Prescribing of SABA plus LABA without ICS

Update your RDS mobile app to v4.7.2 to download toolkits even when website is down.

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. You will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon in the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively update to the latest release - RDS app version 4.7.1 - to see this improvement.

Updating to this latest version of the RDS app is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new resilience arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits. To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

Prescribe inhaled corticosteroid for any patient taking SABA plus LABA.

The NRAD report²² highlighted that individuals with asthma who were prescribed a LABA without an ICS were at higher risk of death. As is clear from the chart below, the number of people without an ICS prescribed is small and continues to reduce. Some of these patients may have a COPD diagnosis in which case prescribing of a LABA without an ICS would be reasonable.

Therapeutic indicator

Number of people prescribed a LABA without ICS per 1000 patient list size

The numerical data for NTI graphs can also be viewed here.

The most up to date national therapeutic indicator data is available here.