Shocking divide in emergency asthma admissions
01 May 2007

To mark World Asthma Day on 1 May 2007, Asthma UK has launched a report which unveils huge differences in the number of emergency admissions for people with asthma across England, arising from poor levels of care. The report is a wake-up call to healthcare providers and policy-makers about the costs and consequences of unnecessary asthma attacks.

'The Asthma Divide: inequalities in emergency care for asthma' shows a shocking six-fold divide between those Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) with the lowest and highest number of emergency hospital admissions for asthma. The region with the highest admissions is North-West England, where rates for asthma are 65% higher than in the East of the country, which has the lowest numbers.

Oldham PCT in the North West comes second on a list of PCTs with the highest emergency admission rates for asthma in England, with admissions 96% above the standardised national average, followed by Central Liverpool PCT now known as Liverpool PCT, in sixth place and Knowsley PCT in seventh.

The region with the second highest admissions is Yorkshire and Humberside. Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT tops the list of PCTs with the highest emergency admission rates for asthma at 114% above the standardised national average. The lowest numbers were achieved by Uttlesford PCT, now West Essex PCT, in East England at 64% below the national average.

A person is admitted to hospital every 8 minutes in England because of their asthma. That's on average 185 people per day and one in six people require further emergency care again within two weeks, yet 75% of admissions for asthma are avoidable and could save the NHS in England an estimated £43.7 million a year.

One in four people receives no information about follow-up treatment, and more than one in ten are unaware of what to do if another attack occurs. Many people who experience an emergency hospital admission for asthma, or care for those that do, have their lives blighted by fear of another attack.

Although asthma is serious and widespread, most people with the appropriate support can control it so that they should not have to be admitted to hospital. By improving routine care so that emergency hospital treatment could be avoided, many people with asthma would no longer have to live in fear.

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, says: 'The report highlights the postcode lottery in asthma care which has resulted in a staggering six-fold divide between those PCTs with the lowest and highest hospital admissions. The effects can be devastating, both physically and mentally which is why reducing the hospital admissions of people with asthma is a key aim for Asthma UK.

'One way we are helping to achieve this is by launching Emergency Asthma Care materials for healthcare professionals. They have been designed to support healthcare professionals who work in settings where they are likely to encounter people having an asthma attack and should ensure a better level of service for all people with asthma.'

Asthma UK is also calling on the Government to give healthcare professionals the tools to ensure a better service and aid better diagnosis. Asthma UK is asking the Government to keep its pledge that all people with long-term conditions such as asthma, should have a care plan if they want one, by 2010.

It's also essential they improve routine care by making sure people with asthma receive a written personal asthma action plan and regular asthma reviews. In addition they need to make local specialists available across England, abolish prescription charges for people with asthma and involve them in the design of services so that their needs are met appropriately.

People with asthma can play their part too. They can make sure they have a written personal asthma action plan, if they haven't already got one, as those without a plan are four times more likely to have an emergency admission than those with a plan. They should also go for regular asthma reviews with a GP or asthma nurse and to help them manage their condition Asthma UK's Be in Control materials are available via this website or by calling the Asthma UK Supporter and Information Team on 020 7786 5000.