House of Commons · Westminster Hall
15 May 2025 · 11 other contributors · 9,517 words
Opened by Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Responding minister: Ashley Dalton
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Jim Shannon raised concerns about world asthma day in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The lead MP requests that the Minister address the need for better access to inhalers and improved asthma care to reduce hospital admissions, waiting times, and ultimately save lives.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
The debate highlights the ongoing issues with asthma care in the UK, including high death rates and hospitalisations doubling over two decades. With 7.2 million people living with asthma in the UK, representing one in nine adults and one in eight children, there are significant challenges such as preventable deaths (66% of which were avoidable) and substantial costs to the NHS (£9.6 billion annually).
Confirmed that they would write to the shadow Minister regarding FeNO. Also mentioned NHS England's pilot programme for digital asthma checks.
Mr. Khan highlighted that every eight hours someone in the UK dies from an asthma attack, with poor air quality exacerbating respiratory illnesses. He called for free inhalers and dose counters on emergency inhalers to prevent hospital admissions and save lives. The speaker highlighted issues such as prescription charges for asthma medication, raising questions around the exemption certificate review process and eligibility criteria. He also discussed the need for better support in community settings for respiratory conditions.
Asked about the contributions by charities to the major conditions strategy.
Asked the Minister to comment on FeNO and requested a written response.
Thanked the Minister for her positive replies and commitment to asthma, mentioning improvements in air quality, national bundle of care, spirometry diagnostic tests, and training of staff.
Discussed the link between poverty and asthma, highlighting that those from deprived communities are three times more likely to die from asthma compared with those in richer areas. Mentioned the need for local meetings to determine causes of variation in asthma outcomes.
The Liberal Democrats advocate reversing cuts to public health funding and increasing the public health grant for local authorities to tackle root causes of poor lung health, including air pollution and housing conditions.
Ms. Toale discussed the impact of pollution on asthma rates in Bournemouth, noting that residents in less affluent areas face significantly higher asthma risks compared to wealthier regions. She emphasised the need for cross-departmental approaches addressing air quality and housing conditions. Focused on air quality and technology to help manage asthma.
Discussed his interaction with Simon Hamilton, an MLA who had Crohn’s disease. Asked about CDCs once NHS England is abolished and thanked all MPs for participating in the debate.
The speaker thanked the lead MP for raising this timely debate and expressed appreciation for Asthma + Lung UK's work. She also raised concerns about vaccination rates among older adults and the impact of low uptake on NHS winter pressures.
Raised issues of access to treatments, inequalities in asthma care, and spirometry availability.
Government Response
Ashley DaltonThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Acknowledging the leadership shown by the lead MP, the Minister offered to meet them regarding discussed issues. She also welcomed meetings with other MPs such as Ayoub Khan to discuss their concerns. The current prescription charge exemptions were explained, noting that around 89% of prescriptions are free in England and children receive free prescriptions. No review is planned for medical conditions exempt from charges. NHS England is working on improving outcomes for people with asthma through targeted funding, clarifying diagnosis processes, and supporting implementation of NICE guidelines. They are also focusing on inequalities through initiatives like Core20PLUS5, which aims to uplift the most deprived quintile through specific interventions to detect and treat asthma. Discussed actions to increase vaccination uptake, obesity prevention, smoking reduction, and air quality improvement. Mentioned the publication of a 10-year health plan focusing on prevention, community care, and digital transformation. Highlighted the pilot programme for digital asthma checks and the FeNO rapid uptake product delivery toolkit provided by Wessex Academic Health Science Network.