Support for Asthma UKís Campaign to Reduce Hospital Admissions in Yorkshire

Wednesday 2nd May 2007

--- From Asthma UK Press Release ---

 

Greg Knight MP and Timothy Kirkhope MEP pledge support for Asthma UK’s campaign to reduce hospital admissions in Yorkshire

 

Mr Knight and Mr Kirkhope have pledged their support for Asthma UK’s campaign to reduce hospital admissions in Yorkshire and across the UK.  Greg and Timothy attended the launch of a shocking report by Asthma UK on emergency care for people with asthma at a parliamentary reception on World Asthma Day (1 May). The Asthma Divide: inequalities in emergency care for asthma revealed an unacceptable six-fold divide between those PCTs with the lowest and highest number of emergency hospital admissions for asthma and highlighted the costs and consequences of unnecessary asthma attacks. A person is admitted to hospital every 8 minutes in England because of their asthma. That’s on average 185 people per day and one in six people require further emergency care again within two weeks, yet 75% of admissions for asthma are avoidable and could save the NHS in England an estimated £43.7 million a year. Greg and Timothy have pledged to support Asthma UK’s work to improve care for people with asthma and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for Asthma UK by: 

§         Ensuring more community-based asthma specialists are trained and accessible

 

§         Fulfilling the Government’s commitment that all people with asthma should be offered a care plan by 2010 -  currently only 16% of people with asthma have one

 

§         Implementing best practice in asthma management – including annual asthma reviews – to help people to manage their condition.

 Asthma UK is supporting healthcare professionals in Yorkshire to ensure a better level of service for all people with asthma by launching Emergency Asthma Care materials. They have been designed to support healthcare professionals who work in settings where they are likely to encounter people having an asthma attack and are available on the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk or by calling the Asthma UK Supporter and Information Team on 020 7786 5000. Donna Covey, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, says: ‘I am delighted that Greg Knight and Timothy Kirkhope have signed up to support our campaign to reduce hospital admissions. It is vital that we address the shocking divide between those regions with the lowest and highest number of emergency hospital admissions for asthma and end this unfair postcode lottery in asthma care.’

 

Ends

 

§         For more information please contact the Asthma UK Media Office: 020 7786 4949 / mediaoffice@asthma.org.uk

§         The Asthma Divide report and Emergency Asthma Care Pack will be available to download from asthma.org.uk from 1 May 2007 or you can call the Asthma UK Supporter and Information Team for a copy after 1 May 2007 on 020 7786 5000 or email at info@asthma.org.uk

 Notes to Editors

 

1.       Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk2.       For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline

 

ENDS