Local action: case studies

As a result of Asthma UK's campaigning, Leeds City Council agreed to ensure that every school in the area had a school asthma policy. They further recommended that asthma policies be developed for implementation in all early years settings and committed to raising awareness in Leeds around asthma triggers. Leeds City Council continues to show their commitment by requesting a progress report every six months.

To date, head teachers are consulting on draft primary and secondary school asthma policies; steps are also being taken to finalise a draft policy for early years centres to enable transition into a city-wide approach to asthma. East Leeds PCT has established an Asthma Working Group and South Leeds PCT is considering a major media campaign to raise awareness of asthma triggers in the general public (particularly parents). These local initiatives will have a positive impact upon the lives of children with asthma in Leeds and their families and friends.

• Leeds scrutiny report (152 kb)

Following an initial approach from Asthma UK, Richmond-upon-Thames council carried out a broad review into childhood asthma. This led to the council making 24 recommendations to improve the lives of children with asthma, covering topics such as training for schools, the impact of traffic on pollution levels, and providing flu vaccinations.

When the Harpenden branch of Asthma UK heard about a local service withdrawing funding for asthma nurses, they successfully campaigned against the decision. The local Hospital at Home service is now retaining asthma nurses which will reduce call-outs for GPs and visits to the hospital's accident and emergency department.

Impressed by Asthma UK's pro-active approach to working with OSCs, the London Borough of Newham committed to a review of local asthma care. The committee, which included people with asthma, and Claire Randolph, Asthma UK's Community Development Officer, visited a range of sites in Newham to see how asthma is currently managed. Local GP practices, chest clinics and an A&E department were all questioned, as were primary and secondary schools. The commission also took evidence from a number of expert witnesses covering occupational asthma, public health and pharmacy.

The report contained 28 recommendations focusing on increasing access to specialist care, improving follow-up after people with asthma attend A&E, enhancing the experience of children with asthma in Newham's schools, and tackling environmental triggers such as air quality and housing. The report is currently out for comment with local health organisations and the Mayor of Newham.

The City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council initially committed to conducting a scrutiny into school asthma policies to enable the 6,500 children with asthma in their area to take a full and active part in school life. Following input from Asthma UK it conducted a thorough Review of Childhood Asthma, covering local management of asthma, the impact of social deprivation, home environment, and allergen avoidance.

The final report contained 10 recommendations, including: implementing asthma policies in schools and early years centres; increasing specialist paediatric nurse provision; and planning and building control which considers the impact on health, particularly asthma, of all new road and housing schemes.

• Wakefield scrutiny report (91 kb)

Aware of Asthma UK's successful support of various scrutiny reviews, the London Borough of Waltham Forest approached us to contribute to its proposed Tobacco and Scrutiny Panel to examine the correlation between illness and/or mortality and smoking.

The panel identified five objectives to focus on: health and education policies on smoking in schools and colleges; strategies to control sales to underage children; reviewing existing regulations and policies regarding smoking in the workplace and in public places; reviewing existing scientific research relating to the correlation between mortality rates and the damage to people's health as a result of smoking; passive smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco. They also conducted a review into the borough's smoking cessation services.

The London Borough of Waltham Forest's Cabinet agreed the final report in December 2004, where it endorsed 13 recommendations to make the residents of Waltham Forest more aware of the risks associated with using tobacco, and promote improvement in health.

• Scrutiny report Waltham Forest (304 kb)
  

1. London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is carrying out a review of the use of school asthma policies in the borough.

2. Oxfordshire County Council - Thanks to the determination of Councillor Brian Hodgson, the council has agreed to ensure that every school in the area has a school asthma policy, to promote personal asthma action plan and to encourage MPs and MEPs to take action on air pollution particularly that caused by diesel engines.

3. Medway Council is producing a report on school asthma policies in the area in order to assess the situation and take any necessary action.

For more information on work in progress, contact Asthma UK's Community Development Team on 020 7786 4922.