People with asthma say a new kind of treatment now available in the county is "life changing".

For the first time, biologic injections are being offered at the Louisa Martindale Building at Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital.

The injections, which people previously had to travel to London for, help to decrease lung inflammation, asthma attacks and the reliance on steroids.

They mean usual asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing and feeling breathless, are not as severe as before.

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Christine Smith, 60, from Brighton said: "Before starting biologic injections, my asthma would make me feel so breathless it was having a detrimental effect on my work and life.

"I tried various medicines to control my asthma but experienced negative side effects and felt awful.

"I had trouble sleeping, gained weight and had liver issues.

"I can’t express how life-changing the biologic medication has been and how fortunate I am to access them at home in Brighton instead of having to travel to London.

“I’m now able to self-inject once a month at home which has given me the freedom to revolve the treatment around my life.

The Argus: The staff at the hospital have been helping people accessing the biologic injections

"The team were very supportive and helpful in showing me how to use my medication, it’s now delivered to my door so I don’t have to go to the pharmacy or hospital.” 

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Peter Evans, 58, from Brighton also said the treatment has changed his life.

Peter said: "I’ve had asthma for about ten years and in the last three years it has got worse and worse, to the stage I was admitted to hospital for a week because I couldn’t breathe.

“I struggle sleeping as I would wake up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, I struggled to keep up with my two grandkids as I kept getting out of breath and I didn’t want them to see their grandad like that.

The Argus: Peter Evans, a patient at University Hospitals Sussex, has praised the treatment

“I started the biologics last month and already feel better. I’m sleeping well and using my inhaler less.

“I’m so grateful to be getting this treatment as I know not everyone has access to it so to be approved I feel so lucky and the team have been absolutely brilliant.

 “It got to a stage with my asthma where I thought my life was going to be shortened, but now thanks to the biologics I feel so much better."

Dr Harpreet Ranu, a consultant in respiratory medicine at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust,  said: “Prior to this treatment being available at Royal Sussex County Hospital from February this year, patients with debilitating breathing issues were travelling over two hours to London more than once, to be assessed, referred and treated for their asthma.

"“The biologics have little to no side effects, they are minimally invasive and can be self-injected by some patients.

"Patients can be seen and offered injectables within four weeks. Before, some patients may have had to wait over a year to receive medication.”