Stourbridge MP Margot James in call to lift inhaler ban at schools

New rules allowing the emergency equipment to be kept in first aid kits are being published by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Stourbridge MP Margot James, who has spearheaded demands for the change, said she hoped they would be in place not long after the start of the new school year.

The blue reliever inhalers most commonly used to treat asthma attacks are prescription-only medicines, which means that schools are not allowed to keep a spare inhaler for emergencies when children do not have their own.

Charity Asthma UK says 1.1 million children with the condition across the UK are at risk because, at present, schools are not allowed to keep an extra device in the event of an emergency.

The Department of Health confirmed in October that a public consultation into the change in regulations would be launched, but timings had been unclear. It will also look at providing guidance for schools on the use of the devices.

Ms James took up the cause after parents in her Stourbridge constituency raised concerns that Dudley Council had ruled that schools were not allowed to keep an inhaler.

"I am delighted that the MHRA has now launched a consultation on this issue and I certainly encourage all interested parties to respond," she said.

"It is vitally important for schools to be able to keep a spare inhaler for use in emergencies, and the change will help safeguard children with asthma, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions or even avoidable deaths. The consultation will help to shape the regulations and guidance for schools, and ensure they have the greatest possible impact."

Dr Samantha Walker, deputy chief executive of Asthma UK, is calling for the consultation to be launched as soon as possible.

She said: "Tragically, attacks can be fatal – the equivalent of a classroom of children die because of asthma every year.

"It simply cannot be overstated just how critical it is for children to be able to get to emergency medicines quickly, especially if they have lost or broken their own inhaler."

The organisation has launched a petition and is urging people to sign it at www.asthma.org.uk/danpoulte

It calls on Health Minister Daniel Poulter to launch the consultation.

A Department of Health spokesman said they were working with Asthma UK to develop guidance for schools to allow them to hold an asthma inhaler for emergency use.

He added: "We want to make sure that children with serious health conditions are supported to manage them in schools, and will be consulting publicly on this change shortly."

As many as three quarters of the average 84 daily admissions of children to A&E because of asthma attacks are believed to be avoidable given better management of the condition at school or in the home.