Asthma UK reports

Asthma UK's reports cover the prevalence of asthma, how it is treated, how it affects specific groups of people (for example those with severe asthma), and Asthma UK's policies and activities. Most reports can be downloaded or ordered using the links below.

Asthma UK Annual Report & Accounts 2008/2009

The Report & Accounts details the charity's accounts for the financial year and its work with people with asthma, parents, healthcare professionals and researchers.

To order a printed copy of the Annual Review or Report & Accounts email our Supporter & Information Team or call 0800 121 62 55.

Archive

Health Futures

Health Futures

May 2009
A collection of essays published by the Smith Insititute and edited by Asthma UK's Chief Executive, Neil Churchill.

The theme of the set of essays is ‘disruptive innovation’ - exploring the need for a radical reconstruction of health policy to deliver change, rather than the adaptation of business as usual.

Authors including Jenny Versnel, Asthma UK's Director of Research and Policy, Mikis Euripides, Asthma UK's Assistant Director of Policy and Public Affairs and Niall Dickson of the King's Fund look at how we can improve the productivity of public spending whilst achieving radically improved health outcomes, particularly through improved preventative measures.

Missing out

Cover of 'Missing out' report

May 2009
To mark World Asthma Day (Tuesday 5 May) Asthma UK launched a report called 'Missing out', which reveals that three quarters of teachers are not completely confident about what to do if a child in their class has a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.

This is despite the fact that asthma is the most common long-term condition affecting children in the UK and on average there are two children with asthma in every classroom.

The report is based on conversations with children across the UK and paints a bleak picture of life at school for children and young people with asthma.

Missing Out - UK-wide report (184 kb) [pdf]
Missing Out - England report (188 kb) [pdf]
Missing Out - Northern Ireland report (161 kb) [pdf]
Missing Out - Wales report (English language) (169 kb) [pdf]
Missing Out - Wales report (Welsh language) (169 kb) [pdf]

Speaking Up

'Speaking Up' report

November 2008
‘Speaking Up’ reveals that many people from minority ethnic backgrounds in England are regularly confronted with poor and inaccessible services from the NHS. In England people from BME communities are among the most severely affected by their asthma, with research showing that compared with the white population, South Asian people are three times more likely to require an emergency hospital admission for their asthma and Black people are twice as likely.

Of the people from BME communities interviewed for this report, more than two thirds did not have their asthma symptoms under control.

Wish you were here?

Wish you were here? logo

May 2008
In 2007 Asthma UK published The Asthma Divide - a report that highlighted significant disparities in asthma control, partially related to inadequate service provision in certain areas.

In 2008 we continued to highlight this divide by widening the scope of our research to the whole of the UK. The ‘Wish you were here?’ reports include admissions data for asthma that reveals a shocking variation across the UK, and contain specific calls to action for each government. Click on the links below to download your copy:

Wish you were here? - UK report (1287 kb) [pdf]
Wish you were here? - England report (2315 kb) [pdf]
Wish you were here? - Northern Ireland report (1506 kb) [pdf]
Wish you were here? - Scotland report (2768 kb) [pdf]
Wish you were here? - Wales report - English language version (2261 kb) [pdf]
Wish you were here? - Wales report - Welsh language version (2521 kb) [pdf]

The Asthma Divide - inequalities in asthma care for people with asthma in England

World Asthma Day report
May 2007
This report reveals shocking disparities in asthma control, arising from inadequate service provision in certain areas.

It reveals that people in north-west England are 65% more likely to need emergency hospital treatment for asthma than those in the east of England. The worst performing Primary Care Trust (PCT) is Heart of Birmingham Teaching, which has an admission rate of 114% above average. The best performing PCT is Uttlesford, which has an admission rate of 64% below average.

The State of Play – asthma emergency care in Northern Ireland

WAD report Northern Ireland (portrait)
May 2007
This report reveals poor levels of care for people with asthma in Northern Ireland and is a call to action to radically and urgently improve asthma care.

A Moving Picture: Asthma in Northern Ireland Today

Detailing the reality of living with asthma in Northern Ireland, 'A Moving Picture' is based on in-depth interviews with almost 300 people with asthma in Northern Ireland, supplemented with data from asthma epidemiology expert body LAIA. February 2004
February 2005
Detailing the reality of living with asthma in Northern Ireland, 'A Moving Picture' is based on in-depth interviews with almost 300 people with asthma in Northern Ireland, supplemented with data from asthma epidemiology expert body LAIA.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind – Asthma in Scotland Today

Asthma in Scotland today. March 2005
March 2005
There are 390,000 people with asthma in Scotland. This report shows that many suffer needlessly with symptoms that could be kept under control. More than half say they are kept awake at night by their asthma and 40% of people have needed to use their inhaler more than 25 times in the previous month.

A Quarter of a Million Voices – Asthma in Wales Today

The prevalence of asthma in Wales is among the highest in the world, with 260,000 people living with the condition and the rate of hospital admissions for adults 28 per cent more than anywhere else in the UK. March 2005
March 2005
The prevalence of asthma in Wales is among the highest in the world, with 260,000 people living with the condition and the rate of hospital admissions for adults 28 per cent more than anywhere else in the UK. This report reveals the true extent of how asthma affects people in Wales and the standards of care that they receive.

Where Do We Stand?: Asthma in the UK Today

A unique set of key statistics documenting the extent of asthma in the UK today.
December 2004
'Where Do We Stand?' is a unique set of key statistics documenting the extent of asthma in the UK today. It highlights how many people are living with the condition, how many are dying from asthma and how much it costs the UK. The report makes recommendations for developing the provision of healthcare for people with asthma of all ages across the UK.

Shaping the Future of Asthma Research

This 2004 Asthma UK report sets out the charity's research priorities.
October 2004
This innovative report brings together the knowledge and experience of scientists and people with asthma to discuss research priorities. The report should help demystify research for a lay audience as well as give scientists a better understanding of the concerns of people with asthma.

Asthma at Work - Your Charter

Workplace Charter
September 2004
'Asthma at Work - Your Charter' sets out ten recommendations to reduce the impact of asthma in the workplace, and provides information on asthma triggers and symptoms, instructions on what to do if someone is having an attack, and guidelines for employers on making the work environment an asthma-friendly zone.

Living on a Knife Edge

2004 report highlighting the huge impact of asthma on the lives of the 2.6 million people in the UK with severe asthma symptoms.
May 2004
More than half a million people with asthma in the UK are living in constant fear that their next attack will be the one that kills them.

In this report, Asthma UK highlights the huge impact that asthma has on the lives of the 2.6 million people in the UK with severe asthma symptoms.