Patricia Hewitt supports World Asthma Day
03 May 2006

To highlight World Asthma Day (2 May), Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt (pictured) attended Asthma UK’s reception at the House of Commons to discuss the future of care for the 5.2 million people with asthma in the UK.

More than a hundred Parliamentarians, healthcare professionals and people with asthma were welcomed by Dr Howard Stoate MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Asthma, who outlined recent parliamentary activity affecting people with asthma, including smoke-free legislation and the White Paper ‘Our health, our care, our say’.

Patricia Hewitt confirmed the Government’s commitment to reducing emergency hospital admissions and improving care in the community to help people with long-term conditions, including asthma, to manage their condition more effectively.

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, welcomed these developments: ‘It is a shocking fact that there are on average over 72,000 hospital admissions for asthma every year and that 75% of these are preventable,’ she said. ‘We look forward to working with the Government to ensure that the reduction of hospital admissions for people with asthma is a priority.’

Just 1 in 5 adults with asthma currently has their condition well controlled. That means over 3 million of them are living with symptoms that impact unnecessarily on their lives.

Ms Covey added: ‘This World Asthma Day we have launched the Asthma Control Test ™ to help people with asthma identify if there is more they could do to improve their asthma. However, it is essential that they also receive the support they need to achieve this.'

An Early Day Motion (EDM) or parliamentary petition has been raised by Howard Stoate MP to mark World Asthma Day, which Asthma UK is encouraging MPs to sign.

The Scottish Parliament also celebrated World Asthma Day as around 30 MSPs attended Asthma UK Scotland’s exhibition which provided information about the Asthma Control Test and Asthma Attack Cards. There are also two motions tabled in the Scottish Parliament marking World Asthma Day, which many MSPs have now signed.

In Northern Ireland members of the public were encouraged by Asthma UK volunteers to take part in the Asthma Control Test™ in shopping centres in Belfast, launched by the city’s Lord Mayor, and in Derry City. In Wales Asthma UK Cymru enjoyed considerable support from celebrities, including Rhys Williams, rugby international and captain of the Cardiff Blues.