A TAMESIDE mum is urging parents and teachers to make sure they know how to use inhalers correctly as children return to school this September, a time when asthma attacks often spike.
Tameside has the highest rate of hospital admissions for asthma in young people in the country, with figures more than double the national average.
Eight-year-old Ellie-May Pickett has lived with severe asthma since she was just nine months old. Despite being prescribed both blue and brown inhalers, she suffered repeated attacks and spent long periods in hospital.
Her mum, Emma, who also had asthma as a child, admits she “knew very little” about managing the condition when Ellie-May was first diagnosed.
“It just got progressively worse,” she explained. “Every month she was in hospital needing steroids, antibiotics, nebulisers, oxygen. We were sometimes in for over a week at a time and all the doctors knew her. She missed a lot of school.”
Because of the number of admissions, Ellie-May was referred to Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust’s children’s respiratory nurse, Amy Brooke. Amy provided Emma with clear guidance on inhaler technique and how the medication works.
“She told me the right way to use the inhaler and explained that the brown one keeps the airways open every day, while the blue one gives short-term relief during an attack,” said Emma.
Earlier this year, Ellie-May was given a new ‘turbohaler’ which acts both as a preventer and reliever. Since then, Emma says her daughter’s health has dramatically improved.
“She hasn’t been admitted to hospital since she started using it. She’s even able to take part in some PE lessons at school again – something she just couldn’t do before.”
Emma is now calling on schools, parents and carers to make sure they understand how to use inhalers and have plans in place.
“School didn’t know how to use it at first, so I had to explain. Now they’re really good, and Ellie-May uses her inhaler at school every day. I also worked with Amy to put together an asthma action plan and gave copies to school, work and family so everyone knows what to do if she has an attack.”
Her call comes ahead of #AskAboutAsthma Week 2025 (8–12 September), led by NHS England. The annual campaign highlights four simple steps to help children and young people manage the condition:
- Have a written asthma action plan
- Use inhalers correctly
- Book an annual asthma review (and after every attack)
- Consider indoor and outdoor air quality and its impact on health