World Asthma Day 2008

Wish you were here? logo To mark World Asthma Day (Tuesday 6 May) Asthma UK has launched ‘Wish you were here?’ – a UK-wide campaign that highlights a shocking divide in health and quality of life for people with asthma depending on where they live.

We are calling on governments and healthcare providers to deliver high quality services for the 5.2 million people – including 1.1 million children - with asthma, regardless of where they live in the UK and demand that the current postcode lottery of service provision and inequalities is abolished.

'Wish you were here?' reports

In 2007 Asthma UK published The Asthma Divide - a report that highlighted significant disparities in asthma control, partially related to inadequate service provision in certain areas.

This year we have continued to highlight this divide by widening the scope of our research to the whole of the UK. The ‘Wish you were here?’ reports include admissions data for asthma that reveals a shocking variation across the UK, and contain specific calls to action for each government. Click on the links below to download your copy:

Wish you were here? - UK report (1287 kb)
Wish you were here? - England report (2315 kb)
Wish you were here? - Northern Ireland report (1506 kb)
Wish you were here? - Scotland report (2768 kb)
Wish you were here? - Wales report - English language version (2261 kb)
Wish you were here? - Wales report - Welsh language version (2521 kb)

Where does your Primary Care Trust rank?

The tables below list hospital admissions for asthma in England by Primary Care Trust. Tables for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales can be found within each nation's 'Wish you were here?' report.

Hospital admissions for asthma by Primary Care Trust 2006-07 - Children 0-14 (80 kb)
Hospital admissions for asthma by Primary Care Trust 2006-07 - all ages (80 kb)

What we are doing to help

For healthcare decision makers: Good asthma services checklist
Asthma UK has published a ‘Good asthma services checklist’ for healthcare decision makers to help improve asthma management. By acting on these recommendations, healthcare decision makers can help people with asthma stay in control of their condition and reduce its impact on their lives. Click on the links below to download your copy:

Good Asthma Services Checklist - England (37 kb)
Good Asthma Services Checklist - Northern Ireland (39 kb)
Good Asthma Services Checklist - Scotland (38 kb)
Good Asthma Services Checklist - Wales - bilingual version (114 kb)

For people with asthma: Make the most of your asthma review
People with asthma are also being encouraged to play their part by taking control of their asthma. Asthma UK’s resource ‘Making the most of your asthma review’ provides clear guidance on what to ask a GP or asthma nurse during an annual asthma review and outlines the level of service they should expect. Click on the links below to download your copy:

Making the most of your asthma review - English language version (40 kb)
Making the most of your asthma review - Welsh language version (56 kb)
Making the most of your asthma review - bilingual version (81 kb)

If you would like to order a paper copy, call Asthma UK's Supporter and Information Team on 08456 03 81 43 or email info@asthma.org.uk.

World Asthma Day 2008

'Wish you were here?' reports

Where does your Primary Care Trust rank?

What we are doing to help

See also

World Asthma Day materials