World Asthma Day 2026: Support, Advice and Your Voice Matters
Asthma affects millions of people across the UK, including many young residents in Brent. While asthma can often be managed effectively, it is important that people receive the right care, information and support to help control symptoms and improve quality of life.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways and can make breathing difficult. Symptoms can include:
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Persistent coughing
Symptoms can be triggered by allergies, pollution, exercise, stress, cold weather, infections, or environmental factors.
If you or someone you know experiences worsening asthma symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice and ensure inhalers and treatment plans are regularly reviewed.
Where Can Brent Residents Get Support?
Residents can access support and advice through:
- Their GP practice
- Local pharmacies
- NHS respiratory services
- NHS 111 for urgent advice
- Asthma reviews and inhaler checks through primary care services
- Community health and wellbeing services across Brent
For immediate medical emergencies or severe breathing difficulties, always call 999 or attend A&E.
You can also find trusted health information and asthma guidance through the NHS website and local healthcare providers.
Why Your Experiences Matter #BeHeardInBrent
At Healthwatch Brent, we want to hear directly from residents about your experiences of health and care services, including asthma support, GP appointments, pharmacy services, respiratory care, and access to treatment.
Your feedback helps improve local services and ensures patient voices are heard by decision-makers across Brent.
We encourage residents to complete our feedback and survey forms:
- Share your views here: Healthwatch Brent – Share Your Views
Every experience shared helps us better understand the challenges residents face and identify where improvements are needed.
Looking After Your Respiratory Health
Some simple steps that may help manage asthma include:
- Taking prescribed medication correctly
- Carrying reliever inhalers when needed
- Attending regular asthma reviews
- Knowing personal asthma triggers
- Avoiding smoking and second-hand smoke
- Seeking help early if symptoms worsen
This World Asthma Day, let’s work together to improve awareness, support better respiratory health, and ensure every Brent resident can access the care they need.
Children & Young People’s Support
- Specialist Asthma Nursing: Call 020 8102 3456 (select Option 1, then Option 3) to reach the Children’s Community Nursing team at Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
- School Nursing Service: For advice on school-based care and asthma-informed training, contact the Brent School Nursing Service at 020 8102 4900.
- Emergency Post-Visit Follow-up: If your child was recently in A&E for asthma, contact your GP surgery directly to ensure they are seen within 48 hours.
Adult and Community Support
- Brent Health Matters Advice Line: Residents can call 020 3114 7185 (Monday–Friday, 9 am – 5 pm) for non-clinical guidance and signposting to Brent Health Matters services.
- Community Respiratory Team: For adult asthma assessments or Pulmonary Rehabilitation at the Willesden Centre for Health and Care, call the Single Point of Access at 020 8102 3456 (select Option 2, then Option 6).
- Brent Asthma Support Group: To join the peer support sessions at Brent Central Mosque, contact the Brent Asthma + Lung UK Support group organizers at 020 8450 1987 or 07989 443 172. [5, 6, 7, 8]
National Support
- Asthma + Lung UK Helpline: Speak to a specialist respiratory nurse by calling 0300 222 5800 or messaging via WhatsApp at 07999 377 775.
- Stop Smoking Service: Contact the Brent Council tobacco cessation team at 020 8937 5490 to help reduce asthma triggers in the home.
