Today, on World Asthma Day (6th May), leading health charity Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is calling for urgent action after their annual survey has revealed that only 3 out of 10 people with asthma surveyed in Wales have received basic care. This consists of an annual asthma review, an inhaler technique check, and a written asthma plan.
In Wales, 30% of people are receiving basic asthma care compared to 32% average across the UK. This is especially concerning when we know that over 60% of asthma deaths could be prevented with better routine care.
The charity says access to basic asthma care helps people control their symptoms and could reduce the rates of asthma attacks and hospitalisations. The cost of asthma to Wales is huge, but fixing basic care could save millions.
Analysis Asthma + Lung UK Cymru has commissioned from PwC found that direct asthma costs in Wales come to £84 million, including all NHS costs, the direct impacts of greenhouse gas emissions (from patient travel, inhaler propellant use and operation of healthcare facilities) and patient travel costs. In addition to this, lost productivity costs account for £184 million a year and the costs associated with reduced quality of life come to £77 million.
The report showed that if everyone with asthma had access to optimised care, then the Welsh NHS could save £7 million and over a thousand bed days, whilst there would be a further £16 million in improved productivity and quality of life savings.
Around 590,000 people are living with asthma in Wales.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru said:
“It is unforgivable that people with asthma in Wales are not getting the support they need. Everyone should be entitled to basic asthma care such as a yearly check-up, written asthma plan and help using their inhaler so they can help control their condition.
“Lung conditions are silently suffocating the NHS, pushing it to breaking point. The lack of action is resulting in avoidable emergency admissions and preventable deaths across Wales. With Wales lagging behind the UK average in delivering basic asthma care, we also need to see radical improvements in the way health services diagnose, treat and help people manage asthma.
“The Welsh Government need to make improving lung health a priority. We are calling on them to produce a respiratory improvement plan to and fully fund primary care so that Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) and spirometry are available and basic asthma care is delivered.”
Louise 54 from Newport has had asthma since she was a teenager said:
“I think people with asthma needed to be supported more. I was diagnosed with asthma at 19 after struggling to breathe. It took a long time to get the right inhalers and the correct care. I just relied on self-management without proper checks for many years.
“Thankfully, I now have an annual check with an asthma nurse and an inhaler check annually but haven’t had a written asthma plan. People with asthma are often left behind and dismissed.”
