A Leeds project to tackle a major cause of asthma has proved so successful that it will be extended to other areas of the city.

Thirty council homes in south Leeds began trialling a new method of eradicating dust mites, developed by local company Alpine Environments, in the spring of 2004.

The mites are one of the primary causes of asthma.

The homes were chosen for the trial by the council and South Leeds Primary Care Trust.

The pilot project has already resulted in a reduced dependence on asthma medications and better school attendance among young sufferers.

Andy Beattie, environmental health officer at Leeds council, said: “We are targeting people in communities out in public sector housing. I think this has real potential. The clinical trials confirmed that the benefits can be a fourfold improvement in symptoms.”

The scheme is attractive to the council and the primary care trust because it can lead to long-term savings on hospital admissions and prescriptions, as well as improvements in school and work attendance. Asthma medication is believed to cost more than £1000 a year for each sufferer.

Alpine Environments is now carrying out treatments in the Manor Farm area of the city, funded by arm’s-length management organisation South Leeds Homes.

Work is also under way to extend the initiative into east Leeds.

Source

Housing Today