Comment On Findings That A Third Of PCTs Do Not Have Respiratory Leads, UK

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 16 Oct 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Comment on findings that a third of PCTs do not have respiratory leads and over half do not use disease information management tools to analyse the number of emergency bed days attributable to asthma attacks.

Neil Churchill, Chief Executive at Asthma UK says: 'It is hugely disappointing that such a large percentage of PCTs are still not taking respiratory conditions like asthma more seriously.

'There are over 200 emergency admissions for asthma every day in the UK, costing the NHS over £61 million per year. We believe that up to 75% of these admissions could be avoided but unless PCTs monitor how they are performing, they will waste money and cause thousands of patients the unnecessary distress of an emergency admission. It is vital that all PCTs have an appointed respiratory lead or these figures are unlikely to change.

'We are working with a number of PCTs across the country to try to improve the standard of care for the 5.4million people suffering with asthma in the UK but it is crucial that health commissioners recognise that far more needs to be done.'

Source
Asthma UK