Levy et al; in 2024 https://bjgp.org/content/74/739/86 observed that:
“It has been 10 years since the UK National Review of Asthma Deaths highlighted major preventable factors related to asthma attacks and deaths, which included overuse of SABAs, under prescribing of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and failure of healthcare professionals to take asthma seriously as a chronic disease that may kill patients.
The Asthma + Lung UK Annual Survey concluded that only a third of people with asthma received even the most basic level of care in 2022. Limited access to busy GPs and specialist respiratory nurses, leading to management by staff with inadequate respiratory training or skills, low staffing levels and funding for adult and paediatric consultant respiratory physicians, as well as low referral rates to specialists for people with severe asthma, are indications that asthma is just not taken seriously enough in the UK.”
The New Approach to Asthma Treatment in the UK
By now the new approach to asthma treatment outlined in the 2024 joint BTS/NICE/SIGN guideline is starting to feel more familiar and should be applied to all new diagnoses of asthma, alongside encouraging this change for existing asthma patients when they are reviewed. This is a step change in the culture of asthma care so it can feel a little scary, but the rewards are great. Use of anti-inflammatory relievers (ICS/formoterol) as AIR or MART regimes in asthma reduces the risk associated with SABA overuse and poor ICS adherence and is the preferred approach for asthma management. However, research shows that correct prescribing in asthma remains elusive, as the conclusions from this study last autumn showed:
https://www.pcrs-uk.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/Abstract-648.pdf
The simple “how to” guide for MART below can improve confidence in prescribing, recommending MART to a prescribing colleague, or talking to people with asthma about the change.
https://www.pcrs-uk.org/sites/default/files/resource/WP_PCRS_MART-article_Oct24.pdf
Using a specific MART or AIR asthma action plan such as the ones that can be downloaded free from Asthma+Lung below supports good patient communication on how to use the new regime.
https://shop.asthmaandlung.org.uk/collections/health-advice-resources
Likewise attending our Asthma update course to gain a wider perspective on current developments in asthma will help embed knowledge and skills for more effective practice – https://primarycarecpdtraining.co.uk/course/asthma-update-webinar/