Marking World Asthma Day this week, MSPs discussed the progress and need for more action to improve asthma care across Scotland, with calls for the government to provide an update on the success of its respiratory care action plan and support asthma education initiatives.

Speaking in parliament this week, Emma Harper, an MSP and registered nurse, said too many people across Scotland are struggling with asthma misdiagnosis and “inadequate” treatment.

Ms Harper – who also co-convenes the cross-party group on lung health – submitted a motion for MSPs to recognise the need for improved education around diagnosis, asthma care management and inhaler use.

With 360,000 people in Scotland living with asthma, Ms Harper said more work must be done:

“Sadly, asthma is a chronic condition that continues to afflict many across Scotland and beyond.

“This is an opportunity to mark the important work done by government and third sector organisations to improve treatment and diagnosis, which the Scottish government’s Respiratory Care Action Plan aims to do alongside organisations such as Asthma + Lung UK Scotland.

“However, there is more work to be done. Too many continue to suffer as a result of misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment.

“By improving healthcare for those with asthma we can improve the outcomes for and lives of those impacted by this condition.”

Launched in 2021, the government’s Respiratory Care Action Plan set out a vision for driving improvements in prevention and the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people living with respiratory conditions.

Last month, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland called for urgent action from both the UK and Scottish governments, saying that asthma care is in crisis.

Now, following World Asthma Day, the head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, Joseph Carter, has urged the government to “fully implement” its action plan for respiratory care:  

“Every year, around hundred people die from asthma in Scotland, and many require emergency hospital treatment.

“Asthma + Lung UK Scotland are calling on the Scottish government to urgently make lung health a priority and to fully implement the Respiratory Care Action Plan, helping to ensure people with asthma get the support they need.”  

The action plan also outlines the importance of ensuring that asthma care is available to everyone, with inequalities in diagnosis, asthma triggers and care existing between those living in Scotland’s most and least deprived areas.

Ms Harper said tackling health inequalities and addressing both housing quality, air quality and financial support are key components to achieving health equity.

While recognising progress made so far, she noted that improving outcomes for and the lives of people with asthma across Scotland requires better care at all levels, adding:

“I would welcome an update from the minister regarding what further steps the Scottish government could take to increase awareness of asthma education in Scotland so that people know what their entitlements are and are empowered to press for them.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto told MSPs that “significant work” is ongoing across the wider health and social care landscape.

While not providing an update on the action plan, she said the government is committed to ensuring that everyone living with asthma in Scotland receives the “best possible care and support”:

“We know that care and treatment for conditions such as asthma are not always where they need to be, but we are continuing to work collaboratively across our whole system to tackle it.

“The Scottish government is committed to improving services across the country and meeting needs through the implementation of a respiratory care action plan.

“As we move through 2024, we know that there is still a way to go in respiratory care and the only way that we will improve is by understanding the needs of those who live with the condition.”

Ms Minto recognise the importance of education and awareness work for “empowering people with asthma” to manage their condition and recognise when to seek medical attention.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said awareness of triggers which worsen a person’s asthma symptoms will be key, echoing the World Health Organisation’s statement that education is a ‘critical tool’ to supporting people living with asthma.

Ms Minto told parliament that the government is currently working alongside the charity and other key partners on commissioning a full national audit programme for respiratory conditions to better understand the scale of need.

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