GPs' poor asthma training 'risks lives'

Lives of asthma patients are being put at risk due to a lack of adequate training among GPs, a charity has warned.

Asthma UK says a survey found that 47 per cent of GPs admit their own knowledge about the condition could be better. Emergency hospital admissions for asthma costs the NHS over £60m a year, yet the charity maintains 75 per cent of admissions are avoidable. It estimates at least £45m could be saved if GPs were better informed and care was better managed.

It adds: "These findings show asthma training is not being given the priority it deserves."