The number of patients being treated by GPs for asthma attacks has increased by 45% in a year, prompting calls for urgent action to address the toxic levels of air pollution. According to data from the Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre, there were 45,458 presentations to family doctors in England between January and June this year, compared to 31,376 cases in the same period in 2024.
This increase in asthma cases comes after a recent report by the Royal College of Physicians showed that 99% of the UK population is breathing in “toxic air.” Air pollution is responsible for killing 500 people a week and costs £27bn annually in illness, NHS care, and productivity losses. New data from the RCGP’s research and surveillance center shows that the rate of asthma attacks in 2025 has consistently remained above the five-year average.
Exacerbations of asthma are closely linked to air pollution, as exposure to harmful substances can irritate patients’ airways. The RCGP is calling on ministers and mayors of major cities to expand existing clean air zones to combat the health consequences of air pollution.
Prof. Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the RCGP, expressed concern over the issue, stating that GPs have long been raising awareness about the detrimental effects of air pollution on patients’ health. She praised the efforts of mayors in cities such as Birmingham and London to reduce air pollution exposure but emphasized the need for further action in the worst-affected communities.
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that its upcoming 10-year health plan will shift the NHS’s focus from treatment to prevention, including addressing air pollution. Sarah Sleet, the CEO of Asthma + Lung UK, stated that the increase in asthma attacks is extremely concerning and called for political will to tackle the issue. She highlighted that exposure to air pollution can trigger life-threatening attacks and exacerbate symptoms.
Prof. Steve Turner, the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, expressed alarm over the rise in asthma attacks in children and urged ministers to act quickly. Studies have shown that air pollution is linked to a significant increase in GP visits by children with asthma.
Dr. Harry Apperley, a clinical fellow at the RCPCH, emphasized the impact of toxic air on children’s health, noting that their lungs are smaller and they breathe faster than adults, leading to increased exposure to air pollution.
The government acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and stated its commitment to tackling air pollution through various interventions and funding measures to support local authorities in improving air quality.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/29/england-air-pollution-gp-visits-for-asthma-attacks-rise-45-per-cent
