Asthma + Lung UK surveyed 3,657 people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis in August.

It found that almost one in six (15%) respondents are rationing the use of their inhaler “to make it last longer”, even though using an inhaler every day helps to prevent attacks.

Meanwhile, 5% of respondents revealed that they have borrowed medicines from others and 6% are not collecting their prescriptions, according to the survey.

Asthma + Lung UK CEO Sarah Woolnough warned that “lives are at risk” and urged the government to step in to help.

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The government could intervene by “ending unfair prescription charges and providing financial support for people who face extra energy bills for medical equipment”, she urged.

One in 10 survey respondents said they are not using devices such as electric nebulisers as regularly as they used to, while almost two-thirds (63%) are purchasing and eating less food – which Asthma + Lung UK pointed out could put them at a higher risk of viruses, the “top trigger of asthma attacks”.

Meanwhile, almost half of respondents (49%) think their condition has worsened following the changes they have made, while 20% have experienced an asthma attack or exacerbation, and 7% have had to seek emergency treatment.

Ms Woolnough commented: “Warm homes, regular medicine and a healthy diet are all important pillars to good lung condition management – but they all come at a cost. We are hearing from people already reporting a sharp decline in their lung health, including many having life-threatening asthma attacks.”

Choice between heating and prescriptions

Meanwhile, pharmacist and NPA board member Reena Barai shared on Twitter that a patient of hers had decided to come off the antidepressant citalopram as they could not pay the prescription charge.

And according to a recent report by charity Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, some MS patients – who typically access their prescriptions privately – “face choices between heating and paying for the prescriptions they need to manage their symptoms”.

The Prescription Charges Coalition pointed out that some conditions such as MS, asthma, and cystic fibrosis are still not included in the prescription charges exemption list.

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The group's chair Laura Cockram told C+D that the coalition is “demanding urgent change to this unfair system, which often sees the most vulnerable put at risk”.

“We hear horror stories about people missing their medication as they prioritise heating their home and eating to stay well. The cost-of-living crisis has made this unacceptable situation worse, which in turn has led to patients needing hospital treatment, ultimately costing the NHS significantly more,” she added.