'A Breath Of Fresh Air' UK
The Directives aim to improve the quality of life of people with asthma and other respiratory conditions in Wales, which has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. There are 260,000 people living with the condition in Wales (1 in 12 adults and 1 in 10 children) and more than 4,000 hospital admissions for asthma every year, yet a staggering 75% of these are avoidable.
The two organisations have welcomed specific actions set out in the Directives, including the establishment of local respiratory teams to deliver services, the development of an asthma care pathway and the need to ensure that all people with asthma have individual care plans developed in partnership with their clinician. People with a personal asthma action plan are 4 times less likely to have a hospital admission for their asthma, yet currently only 16% of people with asthma in Wales say they have a plan, which is lower than the UK average.
Janet Pardue-Wood, National Director at Asthma UK Cymru, says: 'The Service Development and Commissioning Directives for Chronic Respiratory Conditions in Wales outline what must be done by the Welsh NHS and other multi-disciplinary agencies, including the voluntary sector, to bring about major improvements in respiratory services across Wales and ensure they are patient-centred.
'Asthma can be devastating to live with and it kills more than 1,300 people across the UK every year. Our fringe events will be an opportunity for people with severe asthma to paint a picture of what it's like to live with debilitating symptoms every day and highlight their fears about their future health and wellbeing.'
Philippa Ford, Policy Officer for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy says: 'There is currently a real focus on chronic disease management in Wales, so it is vital that all stakeholders consider respiratory conditions such as asthma, as services are developed and commissioned.
Physiotherapists play an important role as part of the multi-disciplinary team supporting people with respiratory conditions. The CSP is very pleased to be working in partnership with Asthma UK Cymru to highlight to key decision makers and other stakeholders what needs to be done to ensure that services in respiratory care across Wales are improved.'However Asthma UK Cymru and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy have some key concerns about the Directives, which they will be voicing at the fringe events, particularly regarding funding levels and timescales.
Janet continues: 'Asthma UK Cymru calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to listen to the views of people with asthma and ensure that its Directives are well-funded, to enable organisations such as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and ourselves to work in partnership with other stakeholders to fully meet the Directives' demanding timeframe.'
Notes
Asthma UK
1. Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma. Asthma UK Cymru is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 260,000 people in Wales whose lives are affected by asthma.
2. For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website http://www.asthma.org.uk.
3. To request a personal asthma action plan call our Supporter and Information Team on 08456 03 81 43
4. For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 08457 01 02 03. Or email an asthma nurse at http://www.asthma.org.uk/adviceline.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
1. To speak to a physiotherapist or for more information call Philippa Ford, the CSP Policy Officer for Wales on 07990 542 436.
2. The CSP is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK's 49,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistants.
3. For previous press releases visit http://www.csp.org.uk. Visit Physio2U at http://www.csp.org.uk to find out how to get a physiotherapist referral on the NHS, or to track down a private practitioner in your area.
Asthma UK
"O gurã de aer proaspãt" UK - 'A Breath Of Fresh Air' UK - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate