People living in one East Lancs borough are among the most likely to be admitted to hospital in an emergency and die from lung conditions, according to a new analysis.

The charity Asthma and Lung UK looked at deaths and hospital admissions for people suffering from conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition which is mostly caused by smoking.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the emergency hospital admissions rate is 53.09 per 100,000 people and for COPD the figure is 239.49 per 100,000 people.

The overall rate for all respiratory emergency hospital admissions is 1,089.02 – the fifth highest rate in England.

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For lung health deaths, the rate is 153.06, which is the fourth highest in England.

In 2021, there were 172 deaths from respiratory conditions in Blackburn with Darwen, and 3050 emergency hospital admissions for respiratory disease in 2020/21.

The analysis found that 80 per cent of the top 10 regions with the highest rates of emergency hospital admissions and deaths for lung conditions in England were in the North West, including Blackpool and Manchester.

Four of the five areas with the lowest rates were in the south of the country, suggesting a north/south divide when it comes to poor lung health.

Asthma and Lung UK says despite the work of NHS doctors and nurses, levels of basic care for people with lung conditions is patchy, and the reason for such high hospital admissions and deaths in some areas is likely due to health inequalities.

Many of the areas with poor lung health are areas where people experience higher levels of deprivation, which can lead to problems like having no choice but to live in poor quality housing, where cold, damp, and mould can be triggers for asthma attacks or cause lung conditions to worsen.

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Some residents in Blackburn have already attended targeted lung health checks with the NHS which has already saved more than 150 lives by identifying cancer early, often when there are no symptoms.

Dr Neil Smith, GP lead and cancer director for Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “We know there is a high prevalence of lung diseases in Blackburn with Darwen, as well as other parts of Lancashire and South Cumbria, and this is why we have been part of the targeted lung health checks pilot.

“The programme offers an ‘MOT for the lungs’ for those at highest risk of developing diseases such as lung cancer. This has already been offered to people in Blackburn with Darwen, as well as Hyndburn, Burnley and Blackpool.

“We have been delighted at the number of people who have accepted their invitation for a check. Many of them are fine, but in some instances signs of disease have been spotted early which allows for life-saving treatment to be arranged.”

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of Asthma and Lung UK, said: “It’s appalling that people across the North West are struggling to breathe, are being rushed to hospital in an emergency and that so many are dying avoidably from their lung conditions.

“We know that people in more deprived areas are more likely to have worse lung health, often with no choice but to live in poorer quality housing, more polluted areas with higher smoking rates. We need to tackle the lung health lottery head on.

“To do better, UK governments must address start inequality in lung health and ensure the NHS has the resources to support its dedicated staff. People at risk or living with lung conditions can’t simply move to improve their lung health – it is health inequality me must battle.

“Governments must ensure people living with a lung condition get an early diagnosis have help quitting smoking, can breathe good quality air and receive the right support and treatment to manage their lung condition well.”