Yorkshire asthma project helping to keep young sufferers out of hospital

Around two youngsters in every class have asthma but there has long been concern at huge variations in numbers needing hospital treatment in the region.

Latest figures show 322 children per 100,000 were admitted to hospital in an emergency for asthma in Wakefield in 2009-10 which is twice as many as in Rotherham, the East Riding and North East Lincolnshire and more than a third above the regional average.

The Local Asthma Impact Project focused on GP practices with high hospital admission and A&E attendance rates. Results in the last year show all those that took part saw falls in hospital visits, with one in Wakefield seeing a 58 per cent cut in admissions. Four practices in Wakefield and Hull together saved the NHS £13,000 in reduced admissions over 12 months.

The initiative also found asthma training for school staff was patchy in the region and teachers felt unprepared to deal with emergencies but its work has led to a new package of support for schools including a guide on asthma and better training for staff.

Simon Selo, of the charity 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.”

Details of the project will be showcased at a childhood asthma summit today in Wakefield and it is now set to be adopted across the region.