Asthma issue unacceptable

9:19am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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.

Editor's Choice