Asthma admissions must be reduced (Eleanor Burnham )

Cymraeg
English

Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Asthma admissions must be reduced

July 27, 2009 10:18 PM

Research carried out by the Asthma UK Cymru charity has shown that the number of people suffering from asthma, admitted to Welsh hospitals as a result of their condition, is 10% higher than the UK as a whole and admissions of children for Asthma related conditions in Wales is 6% higher than the UK average.

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales said

" Asthma in Wales is a major public health issue, and must be treated as such. There are around 260,000 asthma sufferers in Wales; with around 1 in 12 adults and 1 in 10 children living with the condition, and about 4,000 hospital admissions every year. This is one of the highest rates in the world and action must be taken to reduce these figures.

"Hospital admissions at this level suggest that asthma in Wales needs more attention given to it, better information for people with asthma, more work on raising awareness in schools and colleges; and with employers.

"We also need a greater emphasis on understanding the causes of asthma and identifying better treatments. The Welsh Government needs to recognise the scale of the problem, and make effective diagnosis, treatment, and management a political priority.