Calls to clean up England’s ‘toxic air’ as GP visits for asthma attacks rise 45% | Asthma

The number of patients treated by GPs for asthma attacks increased by 45% per year and caused urgent calls to combat toxic air pollution.

According to the Royal General College Research and Service Center data, 45,458 presentations were made to family doctors in the UK between January and June this year. In 2024, there were 31,376 cases in the same period.

The figures come a week after that 99% of the curse of the Royal Doctors College announced that 99% of the British population is now breathing in the “toxic weather”. The research showed that air pollution killed 500 people a week and costs £ 27 billion per year, cost NHS maintenance and productivity losses.

New data from the RCGP Research and Oudal Center show that the ratio of asthma attacks in 2025 is constantly above the five -year average.

RCGP said that asthma exacerbations – attacks that cause shortness of breath and breast tension – other environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as patients’ air pollution is closely linked to air pollution, as it can be irritated by exposure to harmful substances.

College, ministers and mayors of big cities, calls to expand the existing clean air zones to combat the health results of air pollution.

In an interview with Guardian, RCGP President Prof Kamila Hawthorne said: “GPS has long been alarm about the harmful effects of air pollution on the health of patients, and these last figures are very interested in asthma flames.

“Air pollution is a major public health crisis that usually overlooks, but we know that it may be responsible for a number of serious physical and mental conditions and that it will worse the conditions in patients.

“In big cities such as Birmingham and London, we have been encouraged from the efforts of mayors to be exposed to air pollution through schemes such as the Urez initiative, which expresses very positive results.

“However, these latest statistics show that we need to progress further in more affected communities, focusing on reducing air pollution.”

The Ministry of Health and Social Care, said the 10 -year health plan to be published next Thursday will shift NHS to prevent treatment.

Hawthorne said that the fight against air pollution should be an important part of the plan. “If we do not take precautions to address this, they are patients who will experience the results – especially those in areas that are more economical with already limited access to health services.

“In addition to destructive human cost, this will result in a larger burden on an already over -stretched NHS.”

Sarah Sleet, General Manager of Asthma + Lung UK, said the “big increase” in the asthma attacks was “extremely worrying”.

“Although there are many factors in the game, we know that air pollution may be fatal for millions of people living in the UK under lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease,” he said.

“It can trigger life -threatening attacks and intensify symptoms, fight people to breathe. Prevents the growth of children’s lungs, and long -term exposure to high air pollution can cause lung conditions.

“Nevertheless, the government did not show any political will to combat toxic air pollution, which is much higher than the safe level proposed by the World Health Organization throughout the UK.”

Royal Pediatrics and Children’s Health College President Prof Steve Turner said that he was “worried” with an increase in asthma attacks and called on ministers to “move fast”.

In the UK, one of about 10 children has asthma. Previous studies have shown that there were steep increases in the visits of asthma children to doctors after a week of air pollution levels.

“These attacks are sad, serious and threatening life, but can be prevented,” Turner said. “Exposure to air pollution at high concentrations increases the risk of both asthma development and attack triggering.”

Rcpch is a clinical man. Harry Apperley said that the effect of toxic air on child health is “deep, because they are smaller and breathe faster than adults, so they breathed a greater air volume in a shorter time.

Orum I see that children and families living in hospitals, environments that harm their health or nearby environments are increasingly seen… Politicians and policy makers need to take action. He should not take the letter of a clinician and even a child’s death. ”

A government spokesman said: “Air pollution is a serious public health problem and we are determined to deal with this issue throughout the country.

“We have already provided £ 575 million to support local authorities to improve air quality, and we are developing a series of interventions to reduce emissions to expose everyone to air pollution.”