Written question WQ88218
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve outcomes for women with asthma in light of research from Asthma and Lung UK showing that women are almost twice as likely to die from an asthma attack than men?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
The findings from the Asthma and Lung UK report on the impact of asthma on women’s health are concerning. I have been clear about my commitment to good quality healthcare for women and girls and have initiated key actions following publication of the Women and Girls’ Health Quality Statement, including NHS Wales’ 10-year plan and a women’s health network.
I also published the Quality Statement for Respiratory Disease in November 2022, which sets out expectations that health boards should respond to through their local operational planning. This includes the delivery of the national asthma guidelines, which includes healthcare professional education and a national agreed pathway. The work of health boards will be supported by the new respiratory health clinical network that is being established, as part of the NHS Executive.
It is important that health boards look to both plans to inform their approach to asthma care for women and girls. The first domain described in quality statements is equity. The Quality Statement approach attempts to address this through the development and use of data that demonstrates disparities, so that services can apply quality improvement methodology to address those disparities.
Further information can be found at:
Quality statement for respiratory disease [HTML] | GOV.WALES
The Quality Statement for women and girls’ health [HTML] | GOV.WALES