ASTHMA-related emergency hospital admissions in Blackburn with Darwen are among the highest in England, new figures have revealed.

There were 226.8 emergency asthma admissions per 100,000 people in the Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area in 2015/16 - the third highest in the country.

Also ranking in the top ten was East Lancashire CCG area in tenth, which had 194 admissions per 100,000 people.

Figures from NHS Digital also show there were four deaths caused by asthma in Blackburn with Darwen CCG area in 2016, while there were nine in East Lancashire CCG area.

Russ McLean, East Lancashire’s patients’ champion described the figures as ‘alarming’ and blamed funding cuts to asthma education programmes.

He said: “The fact both the CCGs are in the top ten for hospital admissions is worrying.

“There have been cut backs to education programmes for patients over the last ten years where people with long-term health conditions such as asthma could attend short training courses to manage their condition.

“We also live in an area of high deprivation where a lot of people still smoke which has an impact.”

Dr Paul Fourie, of Witton Medical Centre in Blackburn, said: “My advice to patients would be to attend reviews, make sure there medicine is in date and have a plan for if it goes wrong.

“Asthma can be a very serious illness and I do think people underestimate it sometimes.”

Data from the Office for National Statistics also shows that, in the last year, 1,320 people in England and Wales have died from an asthma attack, an increase in asthma deaths of more than 25 per cent in the last decade.

Commissioners said several initiatives had been set up in Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire, which include an Asthma Friendly School programme to enable schools to better support children with asthma.

East Lancashire CCG has also invested in Learn Live, an interactive broadcast channel for schools, run by Lancashire based company, Learn Live to promote effective asthma care and self care.

Dr Stuart Berry, GP and respiratory lead for Pennine Lancashire said: “The biggest priority for anyone with a respiratory condition like asthma is to seek help from their GP, and stop smoking.”

John Bannister, director of operations at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust said: “To meet the needs of patients with respiratory conditions who attend A&E, a dedicated Respiratory Assessment Unit is provided at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“This means patients with respiratory conditions (including asthma) who do not require admission to hospital can now be supported and moved more swiftly through the emergency department”.