Key facts about Asthma in London

• Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition affecting children and young people (CYP). 1 in 10 CYP are affected by the condition, meaning 240,000 CYP have asthma in London. Many have badly managed asthma – to the extent that 4,000 are admitted to hospital with asthma every year and 170 have such a severe episode that they require admission to intensive care.
• In 2018 London Ambulance Services (LAS) attended 2,737 children for asthma and 9,855 children for breathlessness.
• London has a higher rate of illness and death in children and young people because of asthma compared to other European countries
• It is one of the top three causes of emergency admission to hospital (4,000 in London each year). 75% of these admissions are avoidable by implementation of simple interventions
• Nearly half of these children have had an asthma attack in the previous year and 30% have had daytime symptoms in the previous week – however only a fraction of these have a personalised asthma plan on how their asthma should be managed
• 170 children were admitted to intensive care in 2016/17, with an average length of stay of 3 days. The represents a spend of over £1million on intensive care for this population
• Nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and other forms or air pollution are known triggers for asthma and poor health more widely, particularly in children.
• Children die of asthma in London each year; 90% of these deaths are preventable. These children should have gone on to lead full and productive lives.

The Jubilee Academy is a ‘Asthma Friendly School’ status as we have a:

• Named ‘Asthma Champion’ – individual responsible for asthma in school
  • Responsible for linking with community asthma services 
  • Attends annual Schools Asthma Workshop
• Register of all known asthmatics
• Clear asthma policy
• Accessible inhalers for all children with asthma
• Annual whole school staff training – minimum of 85% staff attendance
• Display of emergency plan
• Emergency Inhaler Kits
• Annual asthma audit completed by School Nurse