Willie Rennie MP pledges support to Asthma UK's campaign to reduce emergency hospital admissions for asthma in Dunfermline and West Fife

2.46.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th May 2008

Local MP Willie Rennie has pledged his support for Asthma UK's Wish you were here? campaign to reduce hospital admissions in Dunfermline and West Fife and across the UK.

As part of the campaign, Asthma UK launched a report on World Asthma Day (6 May), at a parliamentary reception in Westminster, which was attended by Mr Rennie. The report highlights shocking differences in the numbers of emergency hospital admissions for adults and children with asthma across the whole of the UK. In Scotland, the report shows people with asthma in Lanarkshire are 57% more likely to be admitted to hospital for their asthma than those living in Dumfries and Galloway. There is an even wider range between areas in admissions figures for children than those for adults, with under-15s in Tayside over two and a half times more likely to be hospitalised due to asthma than those living in the Borders.

A person is admitted to hospital every 7 minutes in the UK because of their asthma, which is on average 221 people per day (91 children). Emergency hospital admissions for asthma cost the NHS £61 million per year, yet 75% of admissions could be avoided through better asthma management and routine care. This could mean a saving of almost £46 million.

Speaking after the Westminster reception, Mr Rennie MP said:

"This difference in standards across Scotland is simply unacceptable, leading to undue suffering and a terrific drain on already over-stretched NHS finances, which could and should be avoided. There should be a clear national standard for asthma, and the Government must fulfil it's commitment to offer all people with the condition an individual care plan - evidence suggests that those with a personal action plan are four times less likely to be admitted to hospital for asthma, which is a target we should all be aiming for."

Neil Churchill, Chief Executive of Asthma UK, said:

"It's great news that Mr Rennie has signed up to support our campaign to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and improve services for people with asthma in Dunfermline and West Fife. If asthma is not controlled effectively, the effects can be devastating and in some cases fatal, which is why reducing the hospital admissions of people with asthma is a key aim for Asthma UK. Our campaign must act as a wake-up call to the Government and Health Boards about the costs and consequences of unnecessary hospital admissions."