Parents of children with asthma in the Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven district are being urged to obtain an ‘individual management plan’ for their child, which should mean they will be four times less likely to be admitted to hospital due to an attack.

Developed in partnership with Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group, the initiative is being led by GP surgeries and hospitals.

The plans provide important information about a child’s inhalers and other medication, and how and when they should be used. They also give advice on what to do in response to symptoms.

Each child can have numerous copies so all adults who supervise them are aware of their condition.

The initiative has come in response to high levels of hospital admissions for asthma in the district.

Clinical specialty lead for children and young people, GP Louise Clarke, said: “Young people and parents of children with asthma need consistent, clear messages from health professionals about managing their asthma. These plans are designed to help deliver this, and also to help young people and their families to manage their asthma well so that their asthma doesn’t stop them from doing their normal activities.

“Parents and young people that have received the management plans so far have found them simple and easy to follow.

“Research by national asthma charity Asthma UK has found that children and young people with an asthma management plan are four times less likely to be admitted to hospital. Using a plan also improves the quality of life for the child, resulting in fewer days missed from school and he or she being able to take part in sport and school activities.”

Twelve-year-old Rhys Hood has recently started using the plan and his mother, Clare Walker, said: “It is a massive help. It’s plain and simple and it informs of you what you need to do.

“He has had an inhaler for a while but I never had the information before and, obviously, the information on paper is much better.

“We only got it last week but in that week it has shown a difference – he’s not having to take as much of the inhaler because he’s taking it properly.”

Rhys added: “I can do more because I don’t get breathless that much.

“It’s been really good – I can do more walking and running. I can run for two to three minutes without getting breathless.”

Parents of children and young people with asthma are being urged to make an appointment with their GP or practice nurse to obtain an individual management plan, prior to the new school year in September.