Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the guidance from the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative, whether his Department is taking steps to minimise the use of Oral Corticosteroids as a maintenance treatment for asthma patients.

There are no plans to undertake an assessment of the prescribing of oral corticosteroids for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Reducing health inequalities amongst people with COPD and asthma is a key cross-cutting focus for NHS England. Respiratory clinical networks have been established to support delivery of the objectives set out in the Long-Term Plan, which includes a particular focus on reducing health inequalities.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the British Thoracic Society and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network provide clear guidance on the prescribing of oral steroids for both COPD and asthma. For both conditions, short courses only are recommended in cases of acute exacerbations.

For people with COPD, NICE do not normally recommend maintenance use of oral corticosteroid therapy. However, some people with advanced COPD may require maintenance oral corticosteroids when these cannot be withdrawn after an exacerbation. In these cases, the dose of oral corticosteroids should be kept as low as possible.