BBC Scotland is headlining a story on asthma-related admissions in different parts of the UK with, of course, a tragic case upfront, and parts of Scotland picked out as among the worst but, surely, the survival rate is the news here.
In Scotland, from 2008 to 2021, deaths due to asthma have fallen from 103 to 96, a 6.7% fall.
https://www.scotpho.org.uk/health-wellbeing-and-disease/asthma/data/mortality-data
Deaths from asthma in England and Wales have increased by a third in the past decade, a new analysis has shown.
The analysis of official figures from the Office for National Statistics, released by the charity Asthma UK on 9 August, shows that more than 1400 adults and children died from asthma attacks in 2018, an 8% increase since 2017.
Overall, more than 12 700 people have died from asthma in England and Wales in the past decade. Deaths increased by 33% during 2008-18.
https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5108#:~:text=Overall%2C%20more%20than%2012%20700,a%20GP%20or%20asthma%20nurse.
And the rate of deaths?
‘More than 1400’ in England & Wales in 2018.
114 in Scotland in the same year.
England & Wales, with 11 times the population might be expected to have 1254 but has more than 1400, 12% higher.
Why?
Free prescriptions?
A better NHS?
Less air pollution? See, for example: https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2020/02/18/scottish-government-infrastructure-project-cuts-congestion-journey-times-and-pollution/
Talking-up Scotland 
On the BBC Scotland, Glasgow and West page there is a report about the sad case of a young woman from Skelmersdale in Lancashire who died as a result of an asthma attack. It makes a really sad read.
However, why is it being reported on the Glasgow page? The reason seems to be that a charity which supports people with respiratory conditions has pointed out that deaths from various respiratory conditions is higher is areas of lower affluence than in the more affluent areas. Of course, most informed readers know that on a wide range of issues people in poverty have far greater mortality rates than elsewhere. And, one of the areas of high poverty listed by the charity is “Central Scotland”. So, on the basis of this the sad story of a young woman from Skelmersdale is published on the Glasgow page
LikeLike