Where to buy a nebuliser please

[abbecer]

My Dad is suffering severly with his breathing and needs a nebuliser. He is currently visiting the GP surgery twice a day to use theirs. They only have one for surgery and non to lend out and no extra funds to buy one. We have looked at all ways to try to get one but there just isn't the money (NHS for you!!).

Anyway we now need to buy one. We want one as cheap as poss but decent quality. I know nothing about them. I have found one on EBay called Ariette High Performance for £49.99 plus £8.50 delivery. Sorry don't know how to do links so if anyone could advise if this is ok i would be grateful. Is there anywhere else that sells them? Possibly that i could use a cashback site for.

Thanks in advance

Rebecca x

[Sarahjovi]

I don't know anything about nebulisers! however I have just typed nebuliser into www.google.co.uk and loads of websites immediately came up!

It might be worth your while doing a bit of research to compare prices and models etc.,

Sarah

[cannylass]

in my area, if someone needs a nebuliser on a daily basis or more, the cost is met by the inpatient services at the local hospital. this is achieved by the patient being referred to a chest physician there-would this be possible in your dad's case?

[abbecer]

I will double check with him but i'm sure he's spoken with the GP's and nurses at great length about ways to get one but it draws a blank. No funding available!! The GP has even rang my Dad at home to make sure he is ok between nebuliser visits. Said he will admit him to hospital if he needs one more often than the surgery can provide.

Thanks for your replies

Rebecca x

[polly5]

Some time ago I picked up, a catalogue in a Lloyds chemist for various medical aids, including nebulisers. It might be worth asking in there or trying an independant chemist. I think you can also get the VAT taken off if he is classed as disabled.

UPDATE
I have just found the catalogue, (never throw anything away ) it is a Lloyds pharmacy publication called INDEPENDANT LIVING FOR EVERYONE, there were 10 % off vouchers in it but these are out of date. The nebulisers range in price from £49.99 - £104. 58 but you should get the Vat off
www.lloydspharmacy.com (http://www.lloydspharmacy.com)

[Nile]

Hello abbecer

Good luck with your search and I hope your father is soon feeling better.

I'll move your thread to the 'Health' board, where it should get more views and responses.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1009335#post1009335)) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com (abuse@moneysavingexpert.com).

Regards

Nile

[Carmen]

Sorry that your dad has this problem Rebecca. I know it is dreadful, also to see someone struggling to breathe. My son had this problem and eventually the hospital 'loaned' us a nebulizer (good old days) Might be worth checking with the Asthma/COAD society,they may be able to help.
GOOD LUCK
Carmen x

[digger3]

Porta-neb is a common one that can be ordered from any pharmacy.It should only take 24 hours(ish) for them to get.Sorry but I cant give you any idea of price.

[mr_rush]

The best way to get a nebuliser is through the ordering it from your GP. They order their equipment for healthcare suppliers - that way you are guaranteed the equipment is reasonable quality.

Whatever the cost, it'll be much better then your Dad having to be taken to the GP's twice a day.

[bobsa1]

I'm sure you are doing the right thing, but my daughters consultant stated that if my daughter needed a nebuliser at home, she needed to be in hospital, because using a nebuliser at home can lead to a false sense of security or people waiting too long to get to hospital.

I would discuss it with you fathers consultant and see what he says. Sorry if this isn't very helpful

[katmal]

I need a nebuliser at home but you do have to be very careful and aware of any small changes in your symptoms as the nebuliser can make you feel that you are better than you actually are and mask things such as a chest infection. I bought my nebuliser for approx £100 from lloyds chemists but had to have a prescription for it from my G.P. as they wouldn't sell it to me just because I said I needed one. Lloyds also do a yearly "M.O.T" on it for me!

[Sam_26]

£100 is far too much, should be around £30-£50 for a half decent nebuliser, ensure you shop around. If you get stuck PM me.

[Psykicpup]

I spotted portable nebulisers in the sale at my local Lloyds pharmacy today for £29.99!

[Need_More_Money]

You should bear in mind that there are huge differences in the efficiency of different nebulisers (i.e. the amount of the drug in the nebuliser that ends up in the lungs). All nebulisers are fairly inefficient, but some more than others.

I don't know much about the different nebuliser available, but it is quite common for hospitals to provide nebulisers for home use by patients. Although, that might depend on the condition being treated. For example, Cystic Fibrosis patients nebulise several times a day every day.
I know that the Portaneb (mentioned by someone else), the Pari-Boy and the Ventstream nebulisers are commonly used by hospitals, but I don't know where you could buy them privately or how much they cost.

[LondonDiva]

When you do buy it, please make sure you check the cost and ease of a yearly maintainance check.

[Eagle_1]

Sorry if I sound nosey but if your Father served in the services the Royal British Legion have funds and can help towards medical things. My Father got help to buy a portable nebuliser approx 3 years ago via this fund.

[Busy_B!]

I am having the same problem. Hubbys grandma needs one and the doctor is refusing it! Insists she needs to go to hospital if she needs to use one - which is all the time - especially in this weather! There are loads of diff ones avail - dont know which one is best!