 | NATIONAL ASTHMA CAMPAIGN |
Registered charity number 802364The National Asthma Campaign is the major UK charity for people with asthma
and related allergy. In 1994/5 the Campaign spent over £2 million on
medical research into all aspects of asthma - more than any other
non-commercial organisation including the Government. Support and information are offered to those with asthma, and their
families, through a network of over 170 branches. An important source of support is the Asthma Helpline (0345 01 02 03),
staffed by specialist asthma nurses. It is open 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday,
and calls are charged at local rate. A wide range of publications and videos is available as an additional means
of support. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 can join the Junior Asthma Club and
receive its magazine, A for asthma. The National Asthma Campaign's commitment to health professionals' need for
information is served by the Professional Subscription Scheme. About National Asthma Week National Asthma Week has been a constant feature of the National Asthma
Campaign since the charity began in 1990. Every October the National Asthma Campaign uses National Asthma Week to
focus particular attention on one aspect of asthma. In its first year, the week saw the launch of the Asthma Helpline, which
last year responded to over 17,500 calls. In 1991 the launch of the school pack
proved so successful that it was relaunched in 1994, since when a further
30,000 packs have been sent out. In 1992 National Asthma Week focused on asthma in the workplace which led to
joint initiatives between the Campaign, the TUC and the Health and Safety
Executive. Childhood asthma was the focus of last year's week, which launched
the report The Asthma Generation. How you and your primary care team can get involved in National Asthma Week
1995- Use the order form provided to request materials with which to create a
display in your surgery. In addition to the benefits booklet, materials
available include a photocopiable factsheet pack giving information on some
aspects of advice and information for people with asthma; posters; stickers and
balloons.
- Let your patients know about the range of support and information services
the National Asthma Campaign can provide for them.
- Contact your National Asthma Campaign Honorary Regional Organiser who can
let you know about local meetings. A list of names and telephone numbers is at
the end of this factsheet.
- Get involved in fundraising for the National Asthma Campaign in any of the
following ways:
- support the Great British Swim, the Campaign's major fundraising event
during National Asthma Week
- place a National Asthma Campaign collecting box in your surgery or place
of work
- sell raffle tickets for the Asthma Prize Draw
- distribute donation forms in your surgery or place of work
- organise a street collection
- The National Asthma Campaign relies almost entirely on voluntary donations
to fund vital research and to provide support and information for people with
asthma, their families and carers.
- Form a Local Task Force of health professionals and lay people to devise
asthma management guidelines that reflect local circumstances. Use the British
Thoracic Society Guidelines 1993 to inform this process. Take this opportunity
to review your own asthma clinic protocol and to encourage your local schools
to adopt the National Asthma Campaign's asthma policy.
Resources for health professionals- Our medically-qualified Professional Relations Manager is your contact at
the National Asthma Campaign.
- The Professional Subscription Scheme offers independent information about
asthma management and organisation of asthma care services to over 3,000 health
professionals from multidisciplinary backgrounds. Benefits of the scheme
include access to an information service and discounts on the Campaign's
conferences and study days. Following the success of the First National
Conference on Asthma Education and Management in 1994, a second conference will
be held in London in February 1996. For further information about the scheme
and the conference please indicate on the order form.
- The National Asthma Campaign has a comprehensive range of patient
education materials, including booklets and videos.
- The National Asthma Campaign Training Directory for Practice Nurses gives
details of training courses throughout the UK.
- The National Asthma Campaign funds research throughout the UK into all
aspects of asthma and related allergy. Details of how to apply for a grant can
be obtained from the Research Officer at the National Asthma Campaign.
National Asthma Campaign
Head Office
Providence House
Providence Place
London N1 ONT  020-7226 2260
0345 010203 (Asthma Helpline)
9am to 9pm Monday to Friday
 020-7704 0740
 http://www.asthma.org.uk/
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