§ Mr. LaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require health care professionals to establish a policy to reduce the number of deaths from severe asthma. [173739]
§ Dr. LadymanThe chronic disease management programme, introduced in July 1993, provides arrangements for health promotion under the general practitioner (GP) contract. Participating GPs, around1178W 94 per cent. of the total, receive a fixed annual payment for running organised programmes of care for patients with asthma
The new general medical services contract, launched in February 2003, includes a specific quality indicator for treatment and care of people with asthma. This builds on the chronic disease management programme.
People with asthma will benefit from the expert patients programme (EPP), currently being piloted in primary care trusts around the country. The EPP is providing national health service based training in self-management skills for people with long-term chronic illness.