WORLD ASTHMA DAY

That this House notes the importance of World Asthma Day on 6th May; praises the National Asthma Campaign for raising awareness of this condition, working to move asthma up the political and social agenda, educating the public about asthma, raising funds to help find a cure for the condition and for sponsoring this noteworthy campaign; wholeheartedly supports World Asthma Day, which this year will publicise the launch of the National Asthma Campaign's Ten Point Charter for the National Health Service, a programme outlining what people with asthma should be able to expect from the National Health Service; further notes that asthma affects over five million people in the United Kingdom of all ages and social backgrounds; further notes that, while improvements have been made in recent years in the management of asthma (borne out by declining hospitalisation and death rates at a time of increased prevalence), there are still areas of weakness which must be addressed by those who commission healthcare services; is concerned that 18 million working days are lost every year as a result of asthma, which consequently costs the NHS ú850 million per annum; commends the National Asthma Campaign for drawing up their Ten Point Charter for Change, which demonstrates clearly how the Government could both make a positive difference to the lives of people with asthma and reduce the overall costs of dealing with the condition to the National Health Service and the economy; and wishes World Asthma Day every success.