A “life-changing” clinic set up to help more than 50 asthma patients in Walsall has been extended after a successful trial.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s year-long study enabled severe asthma sufferers to have biological injections for the first time.

The injections replaced steroids and allowed patients to dramatically cut their use of inhalers.

As the programme expands, it is hoped to double the number to 100 patients, and allow many to inject themselves at home, freeing up clinicians’ time.

Every patient undergoes a 12-month trial and if this is deemed successful, then the treatment will continue. If not, they will be tried on a different drug or switched to their previous medication.

Dr Max Matonhodze, Consultant Physician at Walsall Healthcare, said: “We’re delighted to have secured the funding for these drugs to continue.

“We currently have around 50 patients but by the end of the year we’d like to extend that to 100.

“But we want to decant 15-20 of them for home care so they can self-administer their injections at home to ease the burden on Nurses.”

Father of three Shayne Tolley, 39, was the first patient to have a biological injection administered at Walsall Manor Hospital, and returned nearly 12 months on to have his latest injection.

Shayne, a garage shutter manufacturer, had a severe asthma attack which left him unable to breathe.

Within 45 minutes of being rushed to hospital, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where he spent a week on oxygen.

“It’s been a lot better since being on this trial,” said Shayne. “I still use my inhaler but I’m not using steroids or antibiotics anymore.

“I can do jobs around the house and in the garden, lift heavy things at work and play football with my son, whereas before I couldn’t.”

Now he injects himself, watched by partner of 10 years Hannah Begley, 35.

Pamala Allen, 67, was the second patient to have treatment administered at Walsall and also returned to the Manor.

A retired archivist, Pamala has had asthma since six weeks after giving birth to her son Wes 42 years ago. She took steroids for many years but the drugs caused weight issues.

“It gave me my life back because 12 months ago I was taking steroids every six weeks, but since I’ve had my first injections I haven’t taken antibiotics or steroids,” said Pamala.

The trial has been extended because of increased investment at Walsall Healthcare in the last three years.

Having two more Respiratory Consultants, Dr Matonhodze was able to set up the Severe Asthma Clinic, and last year a business case for Respiratory Nurses expansion was approved.

Before this, patients with severe asthma were sent to Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital.

Additionally, the introduction of Benraluzimab (2018) and Tezepelumab (2023) has vastly increased the number of patients eligible for these drugs.

Some 1,400 UK patients per year die of asthma. Of the 195 cases studied in detail of the National Report on Asthma Deaths (NRAD) of 2014, 46 per cent of patients had not their condition reviewed in Primary Care (GPs) in the 12 months before their deaths.

It was also found 56 per cent were not known to secondary care (hospital) in the 12 months before their deaths.

Dr Matonhodze is keen for GPs to refer more patients, adding: “We need to empower Primary Care to identify the severe asthma patients from their practice databases, give them priority to be reviewed in Primary Care so appropriate patients are referred to the Severe Asthma Clinic.

“We will then put them through an assessment process to assess suitability for these injections.”

Patients take one of five biological drugs the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved for the treatment.

Shayne and Pamala took Benraluzimab once every four weeks subcutaneously (under the skin) for the first three injections, and then every eight weeks.

People with severe asthma must visit their GP initially and they will be assessed to see if they are suitable for referral for injections.