Published on: 10 September 2025
Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition affecting children and young people. Nationally, 1 in 11 children and young people are affected by the condition, and around 6,000 children and young people are living with asthma in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
This year the #AskAboutAsthma campaign runs from 8-14 September, raising awareness of condition in children and young people. It serves as a timely reminder of the dangers of asthma attacks, ahead of the return to school for thousands of students up and down the two counties.
#AskAboutAsthma promotes these four principles for youngsters with the condition:
1. get an asthma action plan in place
2. understand how to use inhalers correctly
3. schedule an asthma review every year, and after every attack
4. consider air pollution and its impact on lung health – every asthma conversation should include indoor and outdoor air pollution
In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, asthma services are offered to support children and young people, and their families and carers, to understand how to manage their condition. The goal is to ensure that they can live full lives, without missing out. Asthma can be difficult to diagnose during childhood, but early diagnosis of asthma is key to making sure children and young people can access appropriate care, and ultimately avoid hospital admissions.
Dr Louise Bramble, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire said: "We don’t want anything to hold young people back. That’s why it’s important to recognise and appropriately treat asthma, so they can live their lives to the fullest.
An important part of making sure that they receive the best possible care is to book an annual asthma review at their GP surgery. An updated asthma action plan is also important, especially with the new academic year apon us.
We don’t want asthma to limit children and young people’s lives, so good control of the condition will help reduce symptom and the risk of an asthma attack”
