In my daily work I am contacted by many groups working with families and individuals whose lives are affected by disease and disability. While there are many such problems for which there are no cures I feel we as a society should do everything to help make their lives more rewarding. To that end, I want to raise two specific issues.
The first is asthma in the classroom. One in 11 children in the UK suffers from asthma, meaning we have one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the world.
Having asthma shouldn't mean missing lessons as such. However, half of children and young people have problems joining in with lessons and with going on school trips. Three-quarters have problems participating in PE lessons.
Asthma UK's National Asthma Panel found that a quarter of children with asthma have missed six or more days of school in the past year. But some children can miss weeks of school.
The panel also found that most teachers in England are not confident about what to do if a child in their class has a potentially life threatening asthma attack. Until all teachers are empowered to feel fully up to speed about dealing with asthma, many children will continue to miss out.
Schools that provide good support for children and young people with asthma tend to have three things in common. These are training for teachers, clear school asthma policies, and support from school nurses and community children's nurses.
I am, therefore, backing Asthma UK's "Missing Out" campaign to ensure that asthma doesn't needlessly blight the lives of our children and young people. If you would like more information on this campaign go on-line at www.medicalconditionsatschool.org.uk
The second issue is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which kills young boys usually before they are out of their teens. I have tabled a Commons motion which tries to build on a statement almost two years ago by the Prime Minister that `the Government fully accepts that everything possible needs to be done to bring an end to the tragic impact Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has on individuals and their families.'
Campaigners say that experience from Denmark shows that much better outcomes are possible when resources are focused on supporting those hit by this disease and where life expectancy in Denmark reaches into the 40s. I am urging the government to learn from the Danes and help reduce the misery caused by Duchenne.
| Promoted by Paul Foy on behalf of Dave Anderson, both of St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Shibdon Road, Blaydon, NE21 5PT |