Number of asthma sufferers visiting A&E at least five times a year surges, analysis shows

The number of people going to hospital emergency departments five times a year or more for breathing issues like asthma has risen by almost a quarter in the last year.

Analysis of NHS England figures by Asthma + Lung UK found there were just over 42,000 visits to A&E in 2023/24 for breathing issues where the patient had gone to emergency five or more times within a year, a 22.9% rise on the previous 12 months.

Nearly half (45%) of people who sought emergency treatment for asthma and 58% of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had repeat admissions.

Despite the rise, nearly half (49%) of the 3,428 patients polled by the foundation said they were not offered follow-up appointments for their condition, and 55% said better access to their GP would have helped them avoid A&E.

Dr Sharada Gudur, a consultant respiratory physician in Lancashire, said: “Lung health in this country is in a critical state, and if urgent action isn’t taken, it will need resuscitation.

“The challenges are deep-rooted, but they simply cannot be ignored.”

Asthma + Lung UK pointed out new guidelines stated that if someone had gone to emergency they needed a follow-up appointment with an asthma expert, and have their treatment reviewed once a year.

The foundation said if those guidelines were followed, there would be a drop in A&E presentations as well as asthma deaths, which have increased by 25% in the last decade.

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Source: The Independent, 18 March 2025