ASTHMATICS in Redditch are to be targeted after figures revealed the town had the second highest number of sufferers in the county.

Redditch Primary Care Group is to review its priority areas for its health improvement programmes (HIMPs) and will be investigating the need to have a group dedicated to asthma.

A PCG report showed Redditch had 59 people per 1,000 being treated for asthma, compared to the average of 52 across the whole of Worcestershire.

PCG chief officer Sue Jenkins said: "When you look at the figures as a whole there is a need in Redditch, which has the second highest figure next to Wyre Forest."

Ms Jenkins said a HIMP for asthmatics could be set up to replace another group, such as the cancer group, which was difficult to localise to Redditch because people were treated all over the country.

Other HIMP groups include one for sexual health, one for black and ethnic minority groups and one for coronary care.

Ms Jenkins added: "We are currently reviewing the progress of the HIMP groups over the last two years and we will be prioritising areas.

"Creating a group aimed at asthma is something we will look at."

Epidemiologist for Worcestershire Health Authority, Elizabeth Davies, said: "As far as the actual numbers are concerned, they could be read in two ways.

"Either it could be showing more people in Redditch have asthma or the figures could be saying Redditch GPs are identifying and prescribing treatment for asthma at a higher level."