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Asthma

Volume 460: debated on Monday 21 May 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she is taking to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for asthma; (138282)

(2) what steps she is taking to ensure that all patients with asthma have a written personal action plan;

(3) if she will estimate the savings which would accrue to the NHS if primary care trusts with the highest rates of hospital admissions for asthma were to reduce their admissions to the average rate.

The new general medical services contract was launched in February 2003. The contract includes a specific "quality indicator" for treatment and care of people with asthma; based on:

a register of patients diagnosed with, and prescribed drugs for, asthma;

a record of patients aged eight years and over where diagnosis confirmed by spirometry or peak flow measurement; and

a record of asthma review within past 15 months.

It is the responsibility of local health bodies to ensure that patients living with asthma are offered care plans and regular reviews.

I have no plans to estimate the possible savings to the national health service from such a proposed reduction in the admission rates for asthma.