Calls to clean “toxic air” in England with GP visits to 45 % asthma attacks | asthma
The number of patients treated by GPS for asthma attacks increased by 45 % per year, prompting invitations to take urgent measures to address toxic levels of air pollution.
There were 45,458 shows of family doctors in England between January and June this year, according to data from the Center for Research and Monitoring General Practitioners at the Royal College. During the same period in 2024, there were 31,376 cases.
The numbers come a week after the dreaded report from the Royal College of Doctors that 99 % of the UK population is now breathing in “toxic air”. The research showed that air pollution kills 500 people per week and costs 27 billion pounds annually in health, NHS and productivity losses.
New data from the RCGP Research and Monitoring Center shows that the rate of asthma attacks in 2025 was constantly higher than an average of five years.
RCGP said that asthma exacerbation – attacks that cause shortness of breath and chest tightness – along with environmental factors and other lifestyles, are closely related to air pollution as the airplanes can irritate patients by exposure to harmful substance.
The college calls on ministers and mayors in major cities to expand the current clean air areas to combat the health consequences of air pollution.
In an interview with The Guardian, Professor Camilla Huththorne, President of RCGP, said: “GPS has always been a warning on the harmful effects of air pollution on patients’ health and these recent numbers about the exacerbation of asthma is very worrying.
“Air pollution is the main public health crisis that is often ignored, but we know that it can be responsible for a group of serious physical and mental cases and often exacerbates current cases in patients.
“We are very encouraged by the efforts of mayors in major cities such as Birmingham and London to reduce the exposure of air pollution through plans such as the ULZ initiative, which amounts to very positive results.
“But these recent statistics indicate that we need to move forward, and expand the focus on reducing air pollution in the most affected societies.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said that its 10 -year health plan, scheduled for next Thursday, will turn NHS from treatment to prevention.
Huhthorne said that the processing of air pollution should be a major part of the plan. “If we do not take measures to address this, it is patients who will suffer from the consequences – especially those in the economically deprived areas with the actual access to health care services.
“In addition to the destructive human cost, this will eventually lead to a greater burden on the already excessive NHS.”
“The huge increase” in asthma attacks was “very worrying”.
“Although there are multiple factors in play, we know that air pollution can be fatal for millions of people in the United Kingdom who live with lung conditions such as asthma and chronic pulmonary obstacle,” she said.
“This can lead to life -threatening attacks and exacerbate the symptoms, leaving people who fight for breathing. It increases the growth of children’s lungs, exposure to high levels of air pollution over a long period of time can cause lung conditions.
“However, the government has not shown any political will to address toxic levels of air pollution, which throughout the UK is much higher than the recommended safe levels set by the World Health Organization.”
Professor Steve Turner, head of the Royal College of Children’s Royal and Children’s Health, said he was “anxious” about the high asthma attacks and urged the ministers to “act quickly”.
About one in 10 children in the UK suffer from asthma. Previous studies show a sharp rise in doctors’ visits by children with asthma after a week of high air pollution levels.
“These attacks are sad, dangerous and threatening life, but they can also be prevented,” Terner said. “Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution increases the risk of asthma and the operation of attacks.”
Dr. Harry Abli, a clinical colleague at RCPCH, said that the effect of poisonous air on the health of children is “particularly deep” because their lungs were smaller and breathing faster than adults, so I inhaled a greater amount of air in a shorter period.
“In the hospital, I am increasingly see children and families who live in or near environments that harm their health … politicians and policy makers need to act. He should not take the doctor’s message, or even the death of the child, to make a change,” he said.
A government spokesman said: “Air pollution is a serious public health issue, and we are committed to dealing with this issue throughout the country,” a government spokesman said.
“We have already provided 575 million pounds to support the local authorities to improve air quality and develop a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.”