Asthma UK Cymru

The Senedd building in Cardiff: home of the Welsh Assembly.Rates of asthma in Wales are among the highest in the world: more than 260,000 people with the condition live in Wales, including 55,000 children.

Wales has 4,439 hospital admissions for asthma a year, and has the highest proportion of children under 14 being admitted to hospital for asthma in the UK.

Gallwch hefyd ddarllen y tudalen hwn yn y Gymraeg.

About Asthma UK Cymru

Asthma UK Cymru was established in 2005, in line with political devolution. We recognised that Wales is developing its own systems, structures and priorities and that having local staff would enable the charity to work more effectively for people with asthma in Wales.

Our specialist local knowledge helps us to:

  • Understand the issues that matter to people in Wales and identify how we can help.
  • Build partnerships with the people and bodies that can help us to make a difference.
  • Maintain specialist knowledge of the health service in Wales and know how to influence it.
  • Ensure that people with asthma are represented where decisions are made that affect them, especially at the Welsh Assembly Government and the National Assembly for Wales.
Gallwch hefyd ddarllen y tudalen hwn yn y Gymraeg.


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Influencing policy

We lobby members of the Welsh Assembly and Welsh Assembly Government and work with other decision makers to get a better deal for people with asthma and their families.


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Training pre-school carers: Alert! to Asthma

Alert! to Asthma logo.

Asthma UK Cymru runs a programme of information sessions in Wales for pre-school carers.

The information sessions, called 'Alert! to Asthma', aim to equip early years carers with the knowledge of what to do in case a child in their care has an asthma attack.

Hundreds of pre-school carers have been trained in Scotland over the last few years, and the programme has proved so successul and popular that it is being rolled out over Wales and Northern Ireland.

For more information about the 'Alert! to Asthma' programme email CShorney@asthma.org.uk or call 02920 435400.


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Welsh Language Scheme

Asthma UK operates a Welsh Language Scheme, which was prepared in accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993 and approved by the Welsh Language Board on 16 December 2005.

In accordance with this scheme, Asthma UK will produce many of its publications bilingually. Read more about these in the Publications section further down this page.

Gallwch hefyd ddarllen y tudalen hwn yn y Gymraeg.


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Publications

In accordance with Asthma UK Cymru's commitment to the Welsh Language Scheme, Asthma UK will produce many of its publications bilingually. So far, the following are available in Welsh/English: 'A Quarter of a Million Voices' report, Workplace Charter, Asthma Charter, Asthma Attack Card,' Out There & Active' schools poster and parents pack, 'After Your Asthma Attack', and 'After Your Child's Asthma Attack.'

You can download some of these using the links below. The others may be ordered using our online publications section, or by telephoning our Supporter & Information Team on 020 7786 5000.

The prevalence of asthma in Wales is among the highest in the world, with 260,000 people living with the condition and the rate of hospital admissions for adults 28 per cent more than anywhere else in the UK. March 2005'A Quarter of a Million Voices'
This report is based on extensive research by Asthma UK, and reveals the true extent of how asthma affects people in Wales and the standards of care that they receive. It was published in March 2005.



Asthma Charter
This describes the quality of care you, as a person with asthma, should receive from your National Health Service. It aims to ensure that everyone who works in the NHS and government gives asthma the priority it deserves.



Workplace Charter
'Asthma at Work - Your Charter' sets out ten recommendations to reduce the impact of asthma in the workplace, and provides information on asthma triggers and symptoms, instructions on what to do if someone is having an attack, and guidelines for employers on making the work environment an asthma-friendly zone.


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Research

Researchers in lab

Asthma UK has a central programme of research across the UK, investing around £3 million in around 20 projects each year. Asthma UK also funds two professorial chairs and four fellowships.

Currently Asthma UK funds one research project in Wales. Dr Catherine Thornton, at the University of Wales, Swansea, is looking at how maternal atopy and smoking can affect the immune system of infants in early life.

Gallwch hefyd ddarllen y tudalen hwn yn y Gymraeg.


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Get involved

Hands typing on laptop

Asthma UK Cymru needs volunteers from all parts of Wales who can help with our work. If you can spare some time there are different ways of getting involved.

Can you share your story with the media or local groups? We need people who would be willing to talk about their asthma experience to journalists and speak about asthma in public.


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Media work

We work to raise the profile of asthma in the media in Wales and to keep health professional and people with asthma informed about the latest developments in asthma care and research. For enquiries about any aspect of media work including local spokespeople, case studies and comments on asthma in Wales, please call our media office on 020 7786 4949.

 Asthma UK Cymru media releases 

Gallwch hefyd ddarllen y tudalen hwn yn y Gymraeg.
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Contact us

If you would like to know more about our work in Wales please email Asthma UK Cymru, call 02920 435 400 or write to us at: 3rd floor, Eastgate House, 35-43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB.

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