Call to ease £1.1bn asthma bill

Charity urges big changes and new technologies to ease burden

A charity has called for a sea change in asthma care after research showed the condition costs the UK at least £1.1billion each year.

Asthma UK said a different approach making use of new technologies, such as smart inhalers, was needed urgently to ease the burden on the NHS.

Morethan270people are admitted to hospital each day because of asthma attacks with at least three deaths daily, according to the most comprehensive study of the condition in the UK.

The UK-wide research, led by the AsthmaUKCentre for Applied Research at the University of Edinburgh, found there were around 6.4million GP and nurse consultations for asthma each year.

Researchers estimated that at least £666million is spent annually on prescription costs, with £160million on GP consultations, £143million on disability claims and £137million on hospital care.

The team said the findings confirmed the UK has one of the highest burdens of asthma in the world, with more than 18million people treated for the condition atsomestage intheir life.

Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: “Despite the fact we’re

“People are not receiving care that meets basic standards”

spending over a billion pounds a year on asthma, many people are still not receiving care that meets even the most basic clinical standards.

“It’s clear this has to change and a different approach is urgently needed.

“We strongly believe new technologies such as smart inhalers are the likely game changer that could reduce asthma attacks and ease the burden on the NHS.”