New Report Finds Child Asthma Deaths Linked to Air Pollution: Rosamund responds

On 12th December 2024, following the release of new data on child asthma deaths in England between 2019-2023, Rosamund calls on the Government to act now to prevent more senseless child deaths from asthma.

Rosamund’s full statement:

“I grieve for all of those 54 families today who have lost a child to asthma in the last 4 years. Each one of those families is facing Christmas without their child. For anyone with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, just take a moment to imagine what that must be like for them. And to know that those deaths are completely and utterly preventable. No child should be dying from asthma in our country. One of the most developed countries in the world, no child should be allowed to die, when there is so much more the Government can do to stop it.

“Every child who died from asthma was exposed to illegal levels of air pollution, just like my daughter Ella. Everyday we are breathing in toxic air that is above the air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organisation. The deaths of these children is tragic beyond words, and there are many, many more deaths caused by air pollution in this country. We must legislate to bring our air quality in line with WHO guidelines. The Coroner after Ella’s inquest made it very clear “unless we clean up the air, more children like Ella will continue to die.”

“Enough is enough – no more children must die.

“I say enough is enough and call on this Government, on our Prime Minister and the Health Secretary Mr Streeting in particular, to do what is right and put the health of our children first.

“Unfortunately it does not surprise me that the death rate is four times higher in deprived areas. Those children are contributing the least to air pollution but suffering the most. They are more likely to live on busy roads, taking the bus and breathing in fumes from other people’s cars, they do not own cars. They do not burn wood in their stoves. And yet the injustice is such that their health is suffering most from air pollution – they are breathing in dirty air and they are dying from it.”

The Report:

The National Child Mortality Database released their thematic report ‘Child Deaths due to Asthma or Anaphylaxis’ on 12th December 2024: https://www.ncmd.info/publications/child-deaths-asthma-anaphylaxis-allergy

Key points from the Report that Rosamund references in her statement are:

• There were 54 child deaths due to asthma between April 2019 and March 2023. That’s 1 death every 4 weeks (aged 2-17).
• All of the 54 children who died had been exposed to air pollution above WHO guidelines.
• The death rate is 4 times higher in deprived areas.

Read the full report: https://www.ncmd.info/publications/child-deaths-asthma-anaphylaxis-allergy/