London hospitals are bracing for a seasonal rise in childhood asthma attacks as the new school term begins, with NHS leaders using the 10th anniversary of the #AskAboutAsthma campaign to urge parents, carers and schools to take preventive action now.
The NHS in London said that every September, the number of children rushed to A&E with asthma attacks increases. While fewer children have asthma in London than in the rest of England, those who do are more likely to end up in hospital than children elsewhere in the country.
Doctors said most asthma attacks in children can be prevented, making early recognition and routine management especially important. The campaign is asking families to focus on four steps: get an asthma action plan, check inhaler technique, book an annual asthma review, and think about how air quality affects a child’s lungs.
Brent programme points to the value of earlier diagnosis
The NHS highlighted work in Brent as an example of what can be achieved through earlier diagnosis and neighbourhood-based support. Brent Integrated Care Partnership and North West London health partners launched a programme to identify children with suspected or high-risk asthma, particularly in communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities.
The programme identified 1,877 children with suspected asthma and 922 children with high-risk asthma. Early results showed a 31% reduction in asthma-related A&E attendances and a 10% reduction in hospital admissions across the borough. The NHS said these results underline the benefits of earlier diagnosis, proactive management and community support.
A call for year-round action, not just seasonal reminders
Dr Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director for the NHS in London, said families should not accept repeated asthma attacks as normal and should seek support before a child reaches crisis point. The NHS said embedding these basic checks throughout the year could help more children stay safe, well and symptom free.
The campaign also comes as London’s NHS prepares for winter after what it described as the busiest and hottest summer on record, with multiple heatwaves and UKHSA heat health alerts adding pressure to services. In that context, preventing avoidable respiratory emergencies is being framed as part of broader resilience planning for the months ahead.
For families and schools, the message is straightforward: review asthma control now, not after the next flare-up. The NHS says earlier support, better inhaler use and attention to air quality can help reduce avoidable hospital visits and improve day-to-day life for children with asthma.
