Figures for child asthma shame town (From This Is Lancashire)

Figures for child asthma shame town

CHILDREN with asthma in Bolton more likely to end up in hospital than almost any other youngsters in England, according to new figures from the charity, Asthma UK.

The town is the 10th worst place in the country for emergency hospital admissions for the under-14s.

The figure was 75 per cent higher than the national average for 2007-8, equating to an extra 174 admissions.

Bolton is also 16th in a league table of the highest rate of admissions to hospital for asthma sufferers of all ages, which are 50 per cent above the national average.

In 2007-8, there were 476 hospital admissions, double the normal number in England.

Asthma UK says progress has stalled in reducing the admissions, with the North West having the biggest problem. This also means an opportunity to save money is being lost.

The charity says admissions are traumatic for patients and account for £61 million of the £1 billion cost of asthma to the NHS each year.

It wants to see local specialist services and asthma plans for each patient.

NHS Bolton says the condition is one of its top priorities and it is working hard to improve services, with a review in progress.

John Dean, medical director, said: “We are aware of our high admission rates for asthma and know the main way to address this is to improve the care provided outside hospital by GPs and their teams, supported by specialists in the community.

“Respiratory disease including asthma is a high priority for us and the review already under way is looking at how we can best make these improvements.

“We are involving clinical staff, from both primary care and specialist teams and patients to make sure we get things right for the future.”

Bolton Primary Care Trust says the high figures in Bolton may be due to high rates of smoking and the built-up nature of the town.

Current services include two part-time asthma nurses for children. A specialist respiratory nurse will be recruited to address the problem.

Isle of Wight NHS is the best-performing Trust for hospital admissions for all ages, with figures 48 per cent below the national average.

The organisation puts this down to training asthma sufferers on correctly using their inhalers, which administers medication to help their condition.

cherry.thomas@ theboltonnews.co.uk