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Asthma deaths report warns complacency is costing lives | Asthma deaths report warns complacency is costing lives |
(35 minutes later) | |
People suffering from asthma are dying unnecessarily because of complacency among both medical staff and patients, according to the first national study of asthma deaths in the UK. | People suffering from asthma are dying unnecessarily because of complacency among both medical staff and patients, according to the first national study of asthma deaths in the UK. |
Researchers found that in nearly half of the cases they looked at, asthma sufferers did not receive any medical help during their final asthma attack. | Researchers found that in nearly half of the cases they looked at, asthma sufferers did not receive any medical help during their final asthma attack. |
The National Review of Asthma Deaths says sufferers and medics must be better at recognising the danger signs. | The National Review of Asthma Deaths says sufferers and medics must be better at recognising the danger signs. |
The UK has 5.5 million asthmatics. | The UK has 5.5 million asthmatics. |
Complacency | Complacency |
Although deaths linked to the condition have been falling, there were 1,242 in 2012 - meaning the UK has some of the highest asthma death rates in Europe. | Although deaths linked to the condition have been falling, there were 1,242 in 2012 - meaning the UK has some of the highest asthma death rates in Europe. |
Holly Sparshott, from Gosport, died of asthma at the age of 12. Her mother, Sarah, is campaigning to raise awareness about how dangerous the disease can be. | |
The national study involved a detailed examination of the circumstances around 195 such deaths. | |
Among the review's key findings were: | Among the review's key findings were: |
Researchers found that clinicians and patients alike had become complacent about the illness. | Researchers found that clinicians and patients alike had become complacent about the illness. |
Since asthma symptoms can come and go, some patients may forget or feel they don't need to keep taking their medication, for example. | |
The report calls for better monitoring and improved education for doctors, nurses, patients and carers. | |
Dr Kevin Stewart of the Royal College of Physicians, which managed the review, said: "It's time to end our complacency about asthma, which can, and does, kill. There are important messages in this report for clinicians, for patients and their families and for policy-makers. | Dr Kevin Stewart of the Royal College of Physicians, which managed the review, said: "It's time to end our complacency about asthma, which can, and does, kill. There are important messages in this report for clinicians, for patients and their families and for policy-makers. |
"We haven't paid enough attention to the importance of good routine asthma care by clinicians with the right training and experience and the part that patients themselves play in this. | "We haven't paid enough attention to the importance of good routine asthma care by clinicians with the right training and experience and the part that patients themselves play in this. |
"Too often we have also been slow to detect signs of poor asthma control and slow to act when these have been present, with tragic consequences for some families." | "Too often we have also been slow to detect signs of poor asthma control and slow to act when these have been present, with tragic consequences for some families." |
'Damning indictment' | 'Damning indictment' |
Prof Chris Griffiths of Queen Mary University of London was also involved in the report. | Prof Chris Griffiths of Queen Mary University of London was also involved in the report. |
He said it revealed that care had deteriorated since an analysis in 2005. | |
Prof Griffiths said: "These worrying statistics can and must be turned around in the next decade. | Prof Griffiths said: "These worrying statistics can and must be turned around in the next decade. |
"Those of us who work in general practice must implement the recommendation to have a named clinician responsible for asthma in each practice. | "Those of us who work in general practice must implement the recommendation to have a named clinician responsible for asthma in each practice. |
"Despite facing huge challenges as we work to meet current NHS organisational change, we need to prioritise asthma care in order to reduce deaths in the UK." | "Despite facing huge challenges as we work to meet current NHS organisational change, we need to prioritise asthma care in order to reduce deaths in the UK." |
Kay Boycott, chief executive of the Asthma UK says the charity "wholeheartedly endorses" the report. | Kay Boycott, chief executive of the Asthma UK says the charity "wholeheartedly endorses" the report. |
She said: "This confidential enquiry has identified prescribing errors of a frankly horrifying scale and is a damning indictment of current routine practice." | She said: "This confidential enquiry has identified prescribing errors of a frankly horrifying scale and is a damning indictment of current routine practice." |
In many of the cases the experts examined, warning signs were found to have been ignored. | In many of the cases the experts examined, warning signs were found to have been ignored. |
Ms Boycott added: "Past attacks are a clear risk factor for future attacks, but more than two-thirds of the people hospitalised in the month before they died did not get properly checked up afterwards. | Ms Boycott added: "Past attacks are a clear risk factor for future attacks, but more than two-thirds of the people hospitalised in the month before they died did not get properly checked up afterwards. |
"It's heart-breaking that the review has found 46% of deaths could have been avoided with better routine care." | "It's heart-breaking that the review has found 46% of deaths could have been avoided with better routine care." |
Prof Mike Morgan, NHS England's national clinical director for respiratory services, said: "These statistics are a call to action for commissioners, health professionals and patients. | |
"Every patient should have a care plan which should be regularly reviewed and patients should be supported to manage their asthma, including effective inhaler technique and knowledge of their condition." | |
Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'asthma' in the subject. | Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'asthma' in the subject. |