Thousands of children under 5 admitted to London hospitals for breathing issues

Thousands of children under five were admitted to London hospitals for breathing-related issues in 2023, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Karina Fernandez, who volunteers with Mums for Lungs, and her nine-year-old son live in Croydon, near heavily congested roads, where 160 children were at local hospitals with breathing issues.

“My son and I both have asthma and it is harrowing. No parent should sit in A&E watching anxiously over their child's breath. We need less cars and wood-burning now. For far too long already the air in London and beyond has been so polluted it is making children sick,” she said.

READ MORE: New interactive ULEZ map shows the London boroughs with the worst air pollution levels

Exposure to these types of toxic pollutants can cause respiratory problems and infections, especially in those who already have lung and heart issues.

View the full list of hospitals and number of admissions below:

Hospital	Admissions 0-5 years old
Queen’s Hospital, East London	2,142
West Middlesex Hospital, West London	2,122
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, West Central London	1,502
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South East London	1,481
University College London Hospital, North London	1,354
Kingston Hospital, South West London	1,298
King George Hospital, East London	1,071
Whittington Hospital, North London	1,002
Homerton Hospital, East London	809
University Hospital Lewisham, South London	767
Royal Free Hospital, North London	523
Barnet Hospital, North London	420
Princess Royal Hospital, South London	265
Kings College Hospital, South London	262
Royal London Hospital, East London	187
All Croydon Health Services NHS Trust sites, South London	160
St Georges Hospital, South London	34
Northwick Park, North West London	16
Whipps Cross Hospital, Eas London	<5
Chase Farm Hospital, North London	4
St Barts, Central London	0
Newham, East London	0

The following NHS Trusts did not respond to the FOIs:

• Guys and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust
• Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Jemima Hartshorn, who volunteers with the group, said: “Thousands of children are unable to breathe because of preventable air pollution, this must change. So many children are being admitted to hospitals with serious cases of asthma, and all the evidence shows that damaging lungs at an early age can cause lifelong health conditions.

“The next national Government, Mayors and local authorities must all use their powers to phase out diesel vehicles and protect children from painful and debilitating health conditions.”

Dr Anna Moore, a respiratory doctor working in a London NHS Hospital, said: “All the evidence shows that there is a clear connection between high levels of air pollution and respiratory conditions. These figures also demonstrate that there are hundreds of children who are in hospital with conditions that could be prevented."

Mums for Lungs have been campaigning for the removal of diesel vehicles by 2030 (with some expectations) and better controls of pollution levels by hanging baby grows out in areas with high pollution levels.

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