Call for better asthma services

The charity is calling for joined up asthma services

There is no national health service for people with asthma, according to a Scottish charity.

A report by Asthma UK Scotland said there was an unacceptable variation in emergency hospital admissions for asthma across the country.

It claimed this illustrated why a National Respiratory Strategy was needed as a matter of urgency.

However, the Scottish Government does not have a National Respiratory Strategy.

A spokeswoman said: "As one of the main long term conditions, asthma will be covered by our general work on the management of these conditions, which is about making sure services are responsive to people's needs, delivered as locally as possible, fully integrated between health and social care whilst acknowledging the important role for self-management.

"We have regular meetings with Asthma UK Scotland and will continue to work with them in the future".

The report, released to mark World Asthma Day on 6 May, 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.

During 2006/07, there were 7,105 emergency hospital admissions for people experiencing an asthma attack in Scotland, but those living in Lanarkshire were 57% more likely to be hospitalised than those who lived in Dumfries and Galloway.

Asthma is one of the commonest causes of preventable emergency hospital admissions, yet it remains a low priority for many health decision-makers Shona Haslam Asthma UK Scotland

The report said the difference between areas in admissions figures for children and adults was even wider.

Under-15s living in Tayside were 154% - or more two-and-a-half times - more likely to be hospitalised for asthma than those living in the Borders.

Shona Haslam, national director for Asthma UK Scotland, said: "Reducing emergency hospital admissions for people with asthma is a key aim for us because we know that annually they cost health services in the UK £61m, yet 75% of them are avoidable through effective asthma management and routine care.

"Asthma is one of the commonest causes of preventable emergency hospital admissions, yet it remains a low priority for many health decision-makers.

"The Scottish Government has no plans to produce a National Respiratory Strategy to secure consistent, high quality care for people of all ages with asthma".

She added that a national strategy would bring together examples of best practice from across Scotland and end the lottery of care that currently exists.

"If asthma is not controlled effectively, the effects can be devastating and in some cases fatal", she said.

"Our campaign must act as a wake-up call to health services and government about the costs and consequences of unnecessary hospital admissions."