Small changes in primary care and schools have been able to achieve dramatic improvements in preventing serious illness among children with asthma, a conference will hear today.
Experts will report the findings of a pioneering project in Yorkshire that has aimed to reduce the number of crises faced by children with the condition.
One practice in Wakefield managed to reduce asthma hospital admissions among its patients by 58 per cent – and all GPs involved in the project have successfully reduced emergency hospital attendances, according to Asthma UK.
The project aimed to improve the knowledge of asthma care among both health professionals and school staff.
A big focus on schools saw half the region’s school nursing staff undertake training and 2,000 school pocket guides delivered.
Schools also got training to deliver "asthma assemblies" and were given emergency procedure guides.
Simon Selo, of Asthma UK, said: "This relatively small scale but innovative project has already shown that we can make a real difference to the lives of children with asthma.
"We’ve seen that small changes can produce great results."
Jean Hawkins, associate director of Children’s Services at NHS Yorkshire and Humber, said: "The management of any condition is vital in order to avoid ending up in hospital, and this is something we all want to see so, where possible, children living with asthma can have the sort of care free childhood they deserve.
"Work is now taking place to roll this initiative out right across the region so all children living with asthma can benefit."
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