Campaign launches to improve management of childhood asthma

RCPCH supports the #AskAboutAsthma campaign as NHS in London ask sufferers to ‘take three small steps to improve lives’.

Healthy London Partnership and NHS England London are launching a campaign #AskAboutAsthma to help improve the lives of those living with asthma in the capital.

The campaign, which is launching to coincide with children and young people returning to school and the highest peak of hospital admissions for asthma, aims to encourage all children and young people with asthma to take these three simple steps:

  • ASK: Do I have an asthma management plan? This helps identify the right colour inhaler and dosage, and when to seek emergency help.
  • ASK: Can I use my inhaler properly?
  • ASK: Have I had my annual asthma review?

Responding to the launch of the campaign, Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), said:

“A child is admitted to hospital every 20 minutes in the UK because of an asthma attack but with high quality management, many of these admissions are preventable.

"Left unmanaged, asthma can be deadly so to help prevent a child becoming another statistic, parents must ensure their child has an asthma management plan, can use their inhaler properly and has their condition reviewed every year.

"Regular exercise can also help asthmatics so I’d encourage families, where possible, to swap the car for a bicycle, or scoot or walk to school - this will not only improve their health, but will reduce air pollution in the process.”

London has high levels of air pollution. Air pollution affects everyone who lives and works in London and children and those with respiratory conditions are most vulnerable.

#AskAboutAsthma is also asking all NHS organisations, businesses and residents in London to take simple steps to improve air quality and make a My Asthma Pledge in support of the #AskAboutAsthma campaign.

They want people to:

  • take more exercise by walking to work or school
  • try car pooling and turning off engines when idle
  • use non or less toxic materials in homes and offices.

The #AskAboutAsthma campaign will run from Monday 3 to Sunday 16 September.