Dr Omer Latif 2018-06-01 Person 5 5 0

A home visit was requested for my 90 year old mother. She had complained of shortness of breath and anxiety. My mother lives alone and I visit as often as I am able. Upon visiting her that day, I saw that she was in some distress, breathing was laboured and she was anxious. Dr Latif visited and listened to what I had to say (I am a retired RGN). He then examined my mother and determined that she had Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease. He also agreed with me that her anxiety was reciprocal with the shortness of breath. i.e. shortness of breath=anxiety=shortness of breath=anxiety and you have a cycle of symptoms, all conspiring to make the patient more ill. The initial prescription of Salbutamol and Beclamethazone, via spacer inhaler, was useful at first. However these inhalers demand that the patient has careful instruction by a practitioner in order for them to be effective. Also, the use of the inhalers is dependent upon the ability of the patient to self medicate. An accurate delivery of the steroid dose is difficult to achieve, especially if the patient is elderly or nervous. The prescribing of the Fostair Nexthaler was a revelation. This inhaler produced the most beneficial results. It was easy for my mother to use and obtain the precise and correct dose. Furthermore, she had more confidence in using it, since the dose is registered on the Nexhaler itself and the method of inhaling the drug is straightforward and effective. My mothers breathing is now much improved and as a result, her anxiety has lessened. Follow up breathing tests were organised and my mother attended the surgery to see the practise nurse. I commend Dr Latif for his excellent and reassuring manner. I commend his ability to quickly recognise my mothers condition and arrive at an accurate diagnosis and exemplary treatment.