CRADLEY MP Margot James has been shortlisted for a Grassroot Diplomat Award after her successful campaign to enable schools to hold an emergency asthma inhaler for pupils.

After an eighteen month campaign led by Margot the law was finally changed with an amendment to the Medicines Act 1968 to allow schools to keep a spare asthma inhaler.

The law came into force on October 1 last year and now schools can now buy them from a pharmacy giving asthmatics a vital lifeline.

Ms James visited Greenfield Primary School to see their new asthma policy in action.

She said: “I am delighted that this change in the law will allow schools to keep a spare inhaler, and I have no doubt that this will help to better safeguard pupils.

"It was great to see how the new law is working in practice at Greenfield School to help protect children who have an asthma attack, and I am grateful to the Grassroot Diplomat organisation for recognising the importance of the campaign and shortlisting me for this award, which is a real honour.”

Peter Bravo, headteacher at Greenfield Primary School, said “I am pleased that we have now been able to purchase an emergency inhaler at our local pharmacy and can now ensure that every child with asthma will receive the basic care they need, when they might actually need it most.

"I know that the parents of our children with asthma are also relieved that the law has at last taken a more common sense approach to this surprisingly common health condition.”

Rowena Jeremy, whose eight-year-old son Owen tragically died after suffering an asthma attack, added: “An asthma attack can become life threatening very quickly, so ensuring that a school has a spare inhaler means that all children can be treated promptly and will reduce the chance of the attack becoming more serious.

"This policy change will greatly increase the levels of confidence parents have in a school’s ability to deal with an asthma attack.”