ASTHMA AND FREE NHS PRESCRIPTIONS

Early day motion 102, tabled 17 May 2005 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 98 members.

That this House commends the role of the charity Asthma UK and its campaigns on behalf of UK sufferers; is alarmed that the number of emergency hospital admissions due to asthma remains unacceptably high in the UK and accepts that part of the reason for this may be individuals' inability to pay for their prescribed medication; and believes such a strategy to be both unjust and economically negative, as limiting asthma treatment in such a way not only prolongs suffering and a deterioration in patients' qualities of life, but also burdens valuable NHS resources with further spiralling ongoing costs for treatment.

Signatures by party: Labour 63, Liberal Democrat 20, Conservative 6, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.