Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department gives to health authorities to ensure that carers for children with asthma require the best possible training; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department has established a programme of chronic disease management for asthma. The objective of this programme is to make the treatment of patients with asthma more systematic. Approximately 90 per cent. of all general practitioners have been approved to take part in the programme. Those doctors give advice to the parents of children with asthma, who in turn give the vast majority of day-to-day care. To qualify, the programme must include a call and recall system from a register of patients, the education of newly diagnosed patients, or their carers when appropriate, and continued education. GPs must ensure that all patients with asthma, or their carers as appropriate, receive relevant continuing education, including supervision of inhaler technique if appropriate. GPs are also responsible for the preparation of individual management plans for each patient which are generally subject to review every six months.
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health is she will make a statement on co-operation with the Department of Education in ensuring that all schools have an active asthma policy, taking into consideration the total school environment.
§ Mr. SackvilleIt is our joint policy that teachers should, in consultation with parents and with advice from general practitioners and the school health service, do all that is reasonable to enable children with medical conditions such as asthma to obtain maximum benefit from education and to participate as fully as possible in school life. As far as is practicable, children are encouraged to manage their own conditions.