A South East London mum has called for “clean air action” after her daughter was taken to hospital 11 times last year, writes Grace Warren…
Last year, Southwark News reported that almost 10,000 children had been rushed to Guy’s and St Thomas’ in 2025 due to serious breathing problems.
Now new data obtained via FOI requests by Mums for Lungs found that more than 200,000 children were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties in 11 English cities in 2025.
Children aged three and under accounted for more than half of the reported cases, with 120,000 babies and toddlers admitted to A&E and hospitals, according to the campaign group.
Preema Patel, who lives in South East London, went to hospital with her daughter Violet, 3, 11 times last year after she experienced breathing difficulties.
She said: “As a mother, it is heartbreaking to watch your child struggle to breathe, need oxygen and be too breathless to simply play.”
Ms Patel is now campaigning with Mums for Lungs for stronger action to reduced children’s exposure to air pollution, including for the government to introduce a legal right to clear air.
The Labour Party had promised to introduce a clean air act while in opposition, but dropped the commitment from the party’s 2024 election manifesto.
“We need to take greater responsibility for the air our children breathe and recognise that even small changes can make a real difference”, Ms Patel added.
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Last week, Greater London was one of three cities declared to have been illegally polluted in 2025 by DEFRA, alongside Bristol and Glasgow.
Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution as their lungs are still developing and exposure to pollutants can exacerbate existing conditions, such as asthma.
Dr Dan Cromb, resident paediatric doctor in Lambeth and President of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Paediactric & Child Health Section said: “I regularly see children struggling to breathe. Air pollution can make respiratory conditions worse and contributes to the burden already being placed on families and NHS services.”
He cited the upcoming Budget on Wednesday 28 October as an opportunity for the government to commit to an investment in clean air.
“Prevention is better for children, better for the NHS and better values for taxpayers”, Dr Cromb said.
