Revealed: Unacceptable differences in emergency hospital admissions for people with asthma in Northern Ireland
06 May 2008

To mark World Asthma Day on 6 May 2008, Asthma UK Northern Ireland has released a report which reveals shocking geographical differences in the numbers of emergency hospital admissions for adults and children with asthma.

Despite an overall decline in hospital admissions for asthma in Northern Ireland since the 1990s, the report suggests that overall admissions are still unacceptably high and that there are significant variations between different areas. The figures show people with asthma in the Western Health and Social Services Board (HSSB) are 50% more likely to be admitted to hospital for their asthma than those living in the Eastern HSSB. Among children with asthma these figures are also high with children in the Western HSSB around 48% more likely to be admitted to hospital for their asthma than those living in the Eastern HSSB.

The report forms part of a campaign by Asthma UK called ‘Wish you were here?’ which highlights the lottery that people with asthma face when accessing local health services. As well as the devastating effect on people’s lives, emergency hospital admissions are extremely costly and form a large part of the estimated £1 billion cost of asthma to the NHS/HPSS each year.

Northern Ireland has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world with around 2,000 people admitted to hospital because of their asthma every year, almost half of whom are children. The report demonstrates a significant divide between admissions among health boards.  There are several reasons why this may be the case including levels of deprivation and poor services, for example a lack of asthma nurse specialists in primary care.

In light of these results, Asthma UK Northern Ireland is calling urgently on The Northern Ireland Executive to reduce unnecessary admissions for asthma in Northern Ireland by ensuring everyone with asthma has access to high-quality asthma services wherever they live. Asthma UK Northern Ireland is already working with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to develop a Service Framework for asthma in Northern Ireland together with people with asthma and their carers, which aims to improve the health and social wellbeing of people with asthma. However, The Executive is being urged to allocate enough resources to fully implement the framework successfully across Northern Ireland.

HSSBs, Trusts and GPs in Northern Ireland are being urged to help reduce emergency admissions by signing up to Asthma UK Northern Ireland’s new Good Asthma Services Checklist, which outlines the standard of asthma services that people with asthma should be entitled to. One of the ways they can do this is by offering every person with asthma a personal asthma action plan, as evidence suggests those with a plan are four times less likely to have an emergency admission to hospital for their asthma.

Asthma UK Northern Ireland is also calling on people with asthma and parents of children with asthma to play their part in reducing admissions. Research suggests a shocking 75% of admissions could be avoided if better preventative steps were taken to manage the condition.  Adults with asthma are therefore being urged to make sure they have an asthma review every year (children with asthma should have one every 6-12 months), and to prepare themselves for this review by contacting Asthma UK for their Making the most of your asthma review leaflet*, which includes key questions to ask during the review, and outlines what they should expect from their GP or nurse.

Additionally Asthma UK Northern Ireland is continuing to take forward the Alert to Asthma awareness sessions which give those who work with children with asthma a basic understanding of the condition, its treatment and the knowledge of what to do if a child in their care has an asthma attack. By April 2008 over 1,000 participants will have attended an Alert to Asthma awareness session and requests for this programme continue on a daily basis.
 
Joan O’Hagan, National Director of Asthma UK Northern Ireland says: ‘These figures paint a worrying picture of the impact of asthma on the lives of people with asthma in Northern Ireland, suggesting that not everyone is getting the same access to vital asthma services, such as a local specialist asthma nurse. If asthma is not controlled effectively, the effects can be devastating and in some cases fatal, which is why reducing the hospital admissions of people with asthma is a key aim for Asthma UK Northern Ireland. Our campaign must act as a wake-up call to health services and governments about the costs and consequences of unnecessary hospital admissions.’

To order a copy of Making the most of your asthma review, call Asthma UK on 08456 03 81 43.

1. For further information, contact the Asthma UK media office on 020 7786 4949 or at mediaoffice@asthma.org.uk.
2. Asthma UK Northern Ireland is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 150,000 people in the Northern Ireland whose lives are affected by asthma.
3. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
4. Asthma UK’s campaign is supported by an educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
   

All about asthma

• There were 1,995 hospital admissions for asthma in Northern Ireland in 2006-07 (960 were children aged 15 years or under.
• 1 in 10 children in Northern Ireland has asthma – that’s on average 3 children in every classroom.Asthma is the most common long-term condition among children in the UK.
• Half a million children in the UK live with severe asthma symptoms, such as debilitating breathlessness.
  
• Around  a quarter of children with asthma miss six or more days of school a year as a result of their condition.
  
• Confidential advice about asthma is available by speaking to a nurse on the Asthma UK Adviceline, on 08457 01 02 03 (Monday – Friday, from 9.00am-5.00pm). Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline.