PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Asthma (8 May 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) 999 and (b) 111 calls were made from people with asthma in England during the pollution episode in April 2019, and what comparative assessment he has made of the figures during that period with the (a) expected average and (b) average over the last five years.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

According to the Daily Air Quality Index there were ‘moderate’ to ‘very high’ levels of air pollution in some areas of the UK between 7 and 8 April and between 15 to 25 April 2019. The figures for 999 and 111 calls made from people with asthma in this period are not available in the requested format and a comparative assessment has not been made.

In January 2019, the Government launched the Clean Air Strategy, which sets out plans for dealing with all sources of air pollution to save lives, protect nature and boost the economy.

The Department collaborated with the National Review of Asthma Deaths led by the Royal College of Physicians which examined the circumstances surrounding deaths from asthma and reported in 2015. Lessons learned about the factors that contribute to asthma deaths inform the National Health Service about what constitutes good care and encourages the development of appropriate services for people with asthma.

Answered by:
Seema Kennedy (Conservative)
17 May 2019