Families across Essex and Suffolk have helped to show where changes could be made to improve asthma care for children and young people in our latest report. The research by Healthwatch Suffolk and Healthwatch Essex was funded by the NHS in Suffolk and north east Essex to support better planning of asthma care, now and in the future.
Key findings and learning
More than 140 people shared their experiences in a local survey, interviews, and as a part of engagement within local hospitals.
- People had an inconsistent experience of getting a diagnosis, and some people had found it very difficult.
- More than a third of parents said they either did not have an asthma plan in place for their child or were ‘Unsure’.
- Only half of respondents felt children and young people’s asthma was monitored regularly enough.
- Parents, carers, guardians, children and young people were generally ‘somewhat confident’ about managing asthma attacks, indicating that confidence could be improved with more information, help and support.
- Just over a third of parents, carers and guardians had not had a follow-up review of their child’s asthma after being admitted to hospital.
Read more here: https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/2024/01/children-and-young-peoples-asthma-support/
