The Paediatric Community Asthma Nurse supports children and young people (CYP) aged 5-18 with an asthma diagnosis.

It is a nurse-led service supported by consultants from Royal Free London hospitals (RFL Barnet and Chase Farm). Patients are seen in a primary care setting. Patients are seen face-to-face in either a clinic or through home visits. Follow-up takes place via phone or video consultations. 

The service aims to:

• Improve the confidence and self-care skills of CYP as well as their parents/cares to manage their asthma effectively.
• Improve emotional and social wellbeing through the reduction of stress during periods of asthma symptoms.
• Improve the coordination of local services to patient mange their asthma.
• Reduce the amount of time patients spend in acute/hospital settings.

The service will also pick up referrals from secondary and tertiary care services, such as those with emergency attendances/admission for asthma, to support discharge and prevent readmission. See the referral pathway PDF in downloads.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

The patient must:

• be aged 5-18
• must have a diagnosis of asthma
• registered with a Barnet GP
• frequently collecting salbutamol prescriptions 
• more than one course of prednisolone in a year
• those with frequent exacerbations whom you feel you are not able to improve
• asthma effecting compliance or parental/social factors maybe impacting control

Exclusions

• children under five without a formal diagnosis of asthma
• Viral Induced Wheeze (VIW) is not included in service remit
• discharge from an acute episode: 48-hour review must be carried out by GP
• acute asthma exacerbations
• does not have a Barnet GP
• diagnostic uncertainty

How to Refer