Reducing hospital admissions for children with respiratory conditions

Warm Homes for Young Lungs

Health and Care partners across St Helens are working together to support those most at risk of hospital admission from respiratory conditions. 

One of the key focuses is to support young children who are users of salbutamol inhalers to not only manage their health condition, but to understand whether their living conditions – such as exposure to damp and mould – could be a contributing factor.

If it is considered that their living conditions may be worsening their condition, the child and their family are referred to other services that may be able to support them, such as:

• The Healthy Air for Healthy Lungs Team, who manage indoor air quality
• The Smoke Free Team, who can support family members to stop smoking
• Social prescribers, who can help the family get the social support they need
• Help to apply for grants for new boilers if eligible
• Voluntary Sector organisations such as Breathe Buddies, who help children and their parents manage how to most effectively use their inhalers.

This proactive approach has resulted in fewer hospital admissions for the children seen, more appropriate prescribing and referral to the right service where there could be an alternative cause for the condition.