4,500 people in region visit A&E for breathing issues at least five times a year
The North East and North Cumbria integrated care board saw the highest levels of people visiting hospital at least five times a year for emergency care for breathing issues according to new analysis.
4,490 people visited A&E in the region more than five times with respiratory problems in 2023/24 ahead of West Yorkshire (3,050), Cheshire and Merseyside (2,625) and Greater Manchester (2,030).
Repeat admissions put 'immense' strain on the mental and physical health of patients, experts warned, amid claims many do not 'receive the respect of dignity they deserve'.
Asthma + Lung UK is calling for the issue to be prioritised as part of the Government's upcoming 10 Year Health Plan to prevent lung health from 'falling to the bottom of the pile'.
Of those needing emergency treatment for lung conditions, 45 per cent of people with asthma and 58 per cent of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, were repeat attendees nationally.
Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, said: 'It is unacceptable that people with lung conditions are being shunted between primary care and hospitals like this.
'We are living in the 21st century, and nobody should be stuck in A&E, fighting for breath, simply because their basic care has been neglected.
'We know the NHS can't fix everything at once, but lung health cannot keep falling to the bottom of the pile, nor can we allow people's postcodes or deprivation to determine their lung health outcomes.
'We need to see breathing issues taken seriously, and although we welcome government plans to create better neighbourhood health provision this must include a stronger focus on improving respiratory care otherwise these dehumanising and avoidable rebound hospital visits will continue to rise.'
A spokesperson for the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: "As an ICB, we cover the largest geographical footprint in the country and have 10 accident and emergency departments within it. This will naturally show higher numbers in national data.
"We know that poor respiratory health, whilst not exclusive, is closely linked to the poorest communities.
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'With over 30 per cent of our neighbourhoods being in the most deprived nationally, we recognise that this is an issue in our region.
'Respiratory disease, specifically Asthma and COPD, is one of the five adult conditions we have identified in our Clinical Conditions strategic plan to be prioritised, and we have a dedicated team to support the strategic approach to delivering this plan.
'Additionally, Asthma in Children and Young People (CYP) is also a key priority in the CYP plan, and we also have a CYP team in the region dedicated to Asthma."
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