Comment
Asthma issue unacceptable
THE Northern Echo has a proud history
of fighting to end inequalities in the NHS.
Today is World Asthma Day and to mark
the event a report is published which reveals
shocking differences across the
country in the numbers of emergency
hospital admissions for children.
As well as the traumatic effect it has on
youngsters, emergency hospitalisation is
also extremely costly and is a significant
part of the £1bn NHS bill for asthma treatment
each year. There is also a subsequent
knock-on effect on hospital capacity
and waiting lists.
According to the pressure group Asthma
UK, as many as three quarters of
emergency admissions could be avoided
through routine care.
Worse, emergency admissions in the
North-East are a shocking 60 per cent
higher than the best performing part of
the country.
Eight out of the 12 primary care trusts
serving our region have admissions above
the national average.
This is unacceptable. Health trusts must
do more to help people who can help themselves.
The figures suggest that services for
children with asthma are not of a consistently
high standard across England, but
also demonstrate links between areas of
high deprivation and high emergency admissions.
The NHS must do more to reduce unnecessary
admissions for asthma among
children, by ensuring they have access to
high-quality asthma services wherever
they live. This goal can only be achieved
if England has national standards for
asthma, so Asthma UK is urging the Government
to implement a National Service
Framework for the condition.
Patients are happiest at home, especially
young children. By supporting them in
the home and helping them cope with
their condition, we hope fewer sufferers
will face the upset of an unexpected hospital
visit.
9:19am Tuesday 6th May 2008
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