420 children under five were admitted to the Royal Free with breathing difficulties

A freedom of information request by Mums for Lungs revealed figures for 2023

A Freedom of Information request sent to the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust reveals the extent of breathing problems among Barnet’s youngest children.

In 2023, the latest figures available, 436 children under five were admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties. In the 22 London hospitals surveyed, more than 15,000 children were admitted with severe breathing difficulties.

The figures, obtained by air pollution campaigners Mums for Lungs, have prompted calls to speed up the phase-out of all diesel vehicles by 2030, with a few limited exceptions.

Barnet and Haringey parents have hung nursery rhymes saying ‘Clean Air Now’ near areas affected by high levels of pollution, all in breach of World Health Organization standards.

Sara Hall, a parent who lives in Barnet, said: “I am very concerned about the number of children in hospital with breathing problems here in Barnet. Children are growing up with stunted lungs, not just in Barnet, but across the country. Air pollution is known to permanently damage our health, even before we are born. We need to see more action to reduce pollution from cars and wood burning – our children deserve better.”

Across England, 15,328 children aged 19 or under were admitted to hospital for severe asthma attacks alone, according to Public Health England figures from 2022/23. For London, the figure is 2,705.

Air pollution monitors in Barnet continue to show high levels of some of the most dangerous forms of pollution – including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM 2.5).

Because of the small size of many particles, some of these toxins can enter the bloodstream and be carried around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs. Exposure to PM 2.5 can have serious health effects, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as the young and the elderly.

Short-term exposure to high concentrations of NO2 can cause airway inflammation and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections and allergens. NO2 can exacerbate the symptoms of those who already suffer from lung or heart conditions.

Jemima Hartshorn, Mums for Lungs, said: “Thousands of children cannot breathe because of preventable air pollution, this must change. So many children are hospitalized with severe cases of asthma, and all the evidence shows that damage to the lungs at a young age can cause lifelong health conditions. The next national government, mayors and local authorities must use all their powers to phase out diesel vehicles and protect children from painful and debilitating health conditions.”

Road transport is the biggest contributor to air pollution in London and air pollution is thought to contribute to around 4,000 early deaths every year in London.

Mums for Lungs has written to the main political party leaders, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, asking them to discourage people from buying diesel vehicles and to set a target for England to be diesel-free by 2030, with limited exemptions, alongside actions on wood burning and the creation of more school streets, which restrict the use of cars for drop-off and pick-up.

Dr Anna Moore, a respiratory doctor working in an NHS hospital in London, added: “All the evidence shows that there is a clear link between high levels of air pollution and respiratory conditions. These figures also demonstrate that there are hundreds of children in hospital with preventable conditions. At a time when NHS resources are tight, we urgently need to clean up our air, including phasing out the most polluting diesel cars, lorries and vans altogether, and focus on infrastructure that enables safe walking and cycling because this is vital in the long run. health.”

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