Diagnosing and Treating Asthma
High quality asthma care, that is sustainable and consistent, for patients in the Humber and North Yorkshire area.
High quality asthma care: our top priority
Over 100,000 people in Humber and North Yorkshire (HNY) live with asthma. The condition causes symptoms like wheezing, coughing, breathlessness.
The Humber and North Yorkshire (HNY) Respiratory Network and HNY Children and Young People’s (CYP) Transformation Programme are working together to ensure all asthma patients have access to high-quality, consistent asthma care.
Our key priority is tackling the overuse of short-acting beta agonist (SABA) inhalers and promoting the proper use of preventer inhalers. Over-reliance on SABA inhalers is linked to more frequent asthma attacks and preventable deaths. Historically, Humber and North Yorkshire has seen high levels of SABA use.
The next chapter of asthma care starts with promoting smarter inhaler use, in turn helping to improve asthma outcomes and build a healthier future for our communities.
HNY Asthma Guidelines
In 2023, the HNY Respiratory Network, together with the Children and Young People’s (CYP) Transformation Programme, successfully launched the first unified HNY Asthma Guidelines. These evidence-based guidelines were developed in partnership with asthma specialists and patients to create a consistent, age-inclusive approach to asthma management and care.
A key focus of the guidelines is reducing over-reliance on SABA inhalers and promoting the appropriate use of preventer inhalers to manage inflammation and reduce flare-ups.
Notably, since the introduction of the guidelines, HNY has seen a significant decrease in SABA overuse, indicating better asthma control and improved long-term health outcomes for people with asthma.
In response to the BTS/NICE/SIGN Joint Asthma Guideline published in November 2024, the HNY Asthma Guidelines have been updated to ensure they reflect national best practice.
The updated guidelines continue to highlight the importance of recognising and reducing overuse of SABA (reliever) inhalers.
Children aged:
- 2 to 5 years with suspected asthma
- 5 to 11 years with confirmed asthma
People aged:
- 12 and over with confirmed asthma
- 12 and over with suspected severe asthma
People with:
- suspected asthma that are awaiting objective diagnostic testing
- newly diagnosed asthma
- uncontrolled asthma considered by their clinician to require a change in treatment
- additionally, patients considered by their clinician to require a change in asthma treatment for another reason through shared decision making
Educational Resources
The HNY Respiratory Network, in collaboration with the Children and Young People’s (CYP) Transformation Programme, has developed a range of educational resources to help healthcare professionals deliver high quality asthma care, implement the latest asthma guidelines, support accurate diagnosis, and deliver consistent, sustainable care. Find these below: