Asthma deaths report warns complacency is costing lives

Posted 06/05/2014

The BBC reported today that the first national study of asthma deaths in the UK shows that people suffering from asthma are dying unnecessarily because of complacency among both medical staff and patients.

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 standard of care received was deemed less than satisfactory in a quarter of cases where people died. There was room for improvement in the care received by 83% who died.

The review has shown that 46% of deaths could have been avoided with better routine care.

Sophie Bales, a Medical Injury Solicitor at Ashtons Legal comments:

“This report shows that better monitoring of patients is needed to ensure that asthma deaths are avoided. It also calls for improved education for doctors, nurses, patients and their carers.

It is tragic that so many deaths could have been avoided with better routine care. It is imperative that measures are taken to improve asthma care to reduce these deaths”