Challenge Fund projects

Asthma Diagnostic Clinic

£45,800 | Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust, Leicester

Aims: To set up a dedicated rapid access clinic to allow an accurate diagnosis to be made and provide GPs with treatment advice based on a detailed assessment of airway function and inflammation. The effectiveness of such a service will be demonstrated in order to ensure uptake by local PCTs and elsewhere.

Status:The first six month progress report is due shortly.

November 2006 - May 2008

Self-management for people with asthma from different ethnic groups in Hackney, east London

£44,959 | Social Action for Health

Aims: To introduce 150 people to the concept and practice of self-management and to encourage them to join a self-management programme; for 80 people with asthma to be trained in self-management and healthy lifestyles.

Status: The project has now been completed. A varety of self management courses were held for Afro-Caribbean, Asia, Turkish and Somali men and women. Participation rates varied, but a number of successes and learning outcomes resulted.

April 2005 - November 2006

Hammersmith & Fulham Asthma Awareness Project

£43,500 | Hammersmith & Fulham Primary Care Trust

Aims: To coordinate the asthma support offered to patients and carers through integrating the support network between the local Primary Care Trust and Hospital Trust with social services, the voluntary sector and education authority across the borough.

Status: after a delayed start the project commenced in January 2006. A variety of awareness events were held during January 2006, involving GP practices and schools and at local market stalls. Materials have also been distributed through local libraries. A further progress report is currently awaited.


January 2006 - December 2007

Improving asthma care for schoolchildren

£42,300 | Luton Primary Care Trust

Aims: Improving asthma care for children in an area with a high proportion of black and ethnic minorities. Children are actively involved in the project run by the paediatric sister and school nurse.

Status: The project has now been completed and has raised awareness in schools and primary care, started to improve standards and encouraged the provision of more education for local healthcare professionals on asthma. The project has also contributed hugely to Asthma UK's Emergency Asthma Care Pack materials.

September 2004 - January 2007

Huff & Puff

£41,000 | Maldon & South Chelmsford PCT

Aims: Project involving children in arts programme and training health professionals. The project will consist of two strands:
1. Developing an arts programme that will include singing to improve breathing and self-confidence.
2. Working with children and young people with asthma to educate health professionals and school/PE teachers in dealing with asthma.

Status: After developing the recruitment materials, the music sessions (singing and playing brass instruments) commenced in February 2006 in a local primary and secondary school. A number of useful information materials have been developed and local interest has also grown as the project nears completion. A full evaluation is due in September 2007.

August 2005 - August 2007

Planet Asthma

£38,310 | Bromley by Bow Centre,East London

Aims: This project uses art to enhance the health and well-being of young people (5-18) with asthma, especially those within ethnic minorities and in areas of high social deprivation.

Status: A website has been designed by young people with asthma (see link below). Art, education and exercise workshops have been held at a local primary school, which have had a very positive effect on all the young people. Similar workshops have been held in a GP surgery. Artwork has been produced, which being displayed in the school and local pharmacists are also supporting the project. A project manual is currently being finalised.

March 2006 - December 2007

• Planet Asthma website

Education for Parents of Children with Asthma (aged 0-4yrs)

£34,320 | Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board, Wales

Aims: To improve the health of children with asthma in an area of socio-economic and health deprivation in Wales by providing a structured education programme to their parents. Parents will gain the knowledge and skills to manage asthma as well develop self-confidence to improve the quality of life for the family as a whole as well as their children.

Status: After considerable local publicity, a number of venues were used in the area to hold the sessions. Despite the initial level of interest, overall attendance levels were disappointing. However, the project has raised the profile of asthma in the area and received positive feedback from those who did attend. A final report has been completed.

July 2006 - August 2007

AAAH!!! Adolescent Asthma Awareness and Help

£30,500 | Dudley South Primary Care Trust

Aims: To raise awareness and improve asthma care for adolescents. A resource pack will be produced and provided for each of Dudley's senior schools and school health advisers. Young people will be actively involved at all stages of the project including the production of user friendly materials.

Status: A DVD and CDROM of activity sheets and teachers notes was produced and launched on World Asthma Day 2005 and it is now being used in schools, colleges and other youth settings in the area.

Evaluation of the project has already demonstrated a better knowledge and understanding of asthma among young people and teachers, and its impact has recently been recognised by an award for Research in Child Health from the Royal College of Nursing.

The AAAH!!! Project resource pack is available to schools and healthcare professionals across the UK.

• Find out how to order your free copy
  
  February 2005 - February 2006

Long-term medical conditions programme for people with asthma

£30,000 | Shetland NHS Board, Scotland

Aims: To establish a ‘managing a long-term conditions programme for people with asthma’ and provide educational training for practice and community nursing staff in isolated areas on the islands.

April 2007 - April 2008

School Teenage Asthma Management Project (STAMP)

£29,995 South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust

Aims: Aims: To establish a peer-led asthma education programme in local secondary schools for 15-16 year olds and to raise asthma awareness in this age group.

March 2007 - March 2009

‘Getting sorted’ self care workshops for young people

£28,206 | Leeds Metropolitan University

Aims: To develop, implement and evaluate workshops for young people with asthma and compare results with workshops for young people with diabetes.

March 2007-March 2008

Schools in Norfolk Asthma Policy Training Sessions

£18,300 | Norfolk Schools Asthma Group

Aims: To organise cluster training sessions for the lay representatives in the 450 schools in Norfolk so that consistent, clear guidance can be given on how the schools asthma policy can be implemented in these schools.

Status: The training sessions have been progressing steadily under the guidance of a school nurse and feedback from participants so far has been positive. A further progress report is due shortly.

September 2005 - December 2007

Healthier Young People with Asthma

£15,000 | Western Sussex Primary Care Trust

Aims: Provision of swimming lessons for children with asthma in deprived areas.

Status: Classes started in November 2004 although fewer (41) children than initially expected have participated to date. The project has now finished and an evaluation was completed.

September 2004 - October 2005

Community Pharmacy Asthma Project

£11,000 | East Ayrshire Local Health Care Co-operative

Aims:To establish the contribution that community pharmacy can make to improve the lives of asthma patients and to improve clinical outcomes in non-consulting people with asthma who have uncontrolled symptoms. Twenty pharmacies in East Ayrshire will participate in the project. People with uncontrolled asthma will be identified in the pharmacy using a questionnaire and referred back to their local asthma clinic for review and follow up eight weeks later.

Status: Fewer pharmacists were able to participate than expected and a lower number of assessments were carried out as a result. A report is available on request.

September 2005 - March 2006

Asthma Management for Asian Children

£9,750 | Asian People's Disability Alliance

Aim: To produce a booklet about asthma, targeting Asian children who have asthma. The booklet will be printed in English (for children) with guidance notes in English and Punjabi / Urdu / Gujerati / Hindi / Tamil / Bengali (for parents or non-English speaking carers). The booklet will provide age-appropriate information on managing asthma in an Asian cultural and social context, and will be distributed via channels actively used by the Asian community.

Status: The project is complete and a booklet, entitled 'A Special Assembly', can be ordered from Asthma UK by calling 08456 03 81 43. The expected outcomes are Asian children with asthma and their parents will be better informed and empowered to have confidence in their ability to manage their condition.

February 2005 - May 2007

Leeds West Primary Care Trust

£9,750

Aims: Production of video and leaflets for teachers and parents of children with asthma.

Status: The video and leaflets were launched in Leeds on World Asthma Day 2005: 700 copies have now been distributed. Evaluation still to be carried out.

September 2004 - September 2006

Improving asthma care in the community

£9,000 | Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust

Aims: Funding of training course at NRTC for 20 health professionals.

Status: All 20 staff, from a variety of health professions, have completed this course. Evaluation due to be carried out in January 2006.

December 2004 - June 2005

Beacon asthma project-for the homeless and other vulnerable clients

£8,695 | Beacon house Ministries, Colchester

Aims: To provide a drop-in service, peer group forum and DVD

March 2007-March 2008

Paediatric asthma management in schools

£7,000 | Halton Primary Care Trust

Aims: To develop a coordinated approach to asthma management for children between health and education services.

Status: Project completed: a CD on asthma has been produced and distributed to all primary and secondary schools in Halton, plus first aid training provided for school teachers. Awareness of asthma has increased. A presentation was given at the Airways Conference in January 2005. Final evaluation to be completed in February 2006.

June 2004 -June 2005

Shropshire Schools Asthma Project

£6,800 | Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Trust

Aims: Schools project to audit current provision and develop asthma package for school nurses.

Status: Audit data from over 200 primary schools has been completed and a report has been presented to the Local Education Authority. A teaching package is being finalised and will be launched at World Asthma Day.

September 2004 - September 2007

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for anxiety triggered and exacerbated asthma in children.

£6,170 | United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust

Aims: A respiratory nurse specialist will undertake these sessions in the asthma clinics with children aged between 7-16 years. The aim is to reduce anxiety, improve quality of life and reduce medication and emergency episodes.

Status: Having obtained ethical approval, the project commenced in September 2006. Protocols have been written, training given to the respiratory nurse specialist and the sessions have commenced.

September 2006 - November 2007

Pharmacy project for children on high doses of ICS

£6,000 | Stirling Royal Infirmary, NHS Forth Valley, Scotland

Aim: To implement a system whereby community pharmacists report back high dose inhaled cortico-steroids back to the child’s GP.

March 2007-March 2008

Wakefield Asthma Toolkit

£3,900 | Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust

Aims: To develop toolkit (asthma risk register) for use by primary care health professionals.

Status: The toolkit produced has been highly regarded and circulated beyond the PCT throughout Yorkshire SHA.

June 2004 - March 2005

Children's Summer Asthma Camp

£2,500 | Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust

Aims: This project will be run by respiratory nurses for 20 children with asthma at an outward bound activity centre on a daily basis.(i.e. there is no overnight accomodation as with the Kick Asthma holidays).The planned itinerary includes incorporating team building activities, rockclimbing, canoeing, singing and the arts.

Status: This project has proved successful and is now incorporated into Asthma UK's annual programme of holidays for children and young people.

July-August 2006

Angus LHCC (Tayside Primary Care Trust)

£1,780

Aims: A partnership approach to asthma management in schools.

Status: Asthma UK funded the training costs for this project that is now completed. Demand for the training was higher than expected, with 180 staff participating. This has led to improved working relationships between the health trust and local authorities.

May 2004 - December 2004

Find out more
For more information about the projects listed above, or the challenge fund in general, please contact Simon Selo, Asthma UK's Assistant Director, Policy and Service Development on 020 7786 4921 or email sselo@asthma.org.uk.