Healthcare professionals and researchers can now access the latest figures on asthma from around the country with a new online tool from Asthma UK.

The Asthma UK Data Portal is an interactive digital platform that enablers users to examine seasonal and geographical trends in asthma outcomes across the UK. Users can access data on emergency hospital admissions for asthma by month, area, age and gender, as well as looking up the increased rate of asthma-related deaths that occur during the winter.

The Data Portal also includes information on the prevalence and costs of asthma, as well as the number of patients with asthma within an area who: are registered with a particular GP surgery; receive an annual asthma review; claim disability allowance or die from asthma. 

Dr Samantha Walker, director of research and policy at Asthma UK, said: "Understanding how asthma care is being delivered through GP practices and other primary care providers can help us to improve outcomes for people with asthma.

"Our Data Portal enables health care professionals and researchers to identify areas where for example, hospital admissions for asthma may be exceptionally high, or where low numbers of people are undertaking their annual asthma review with their GP. As more data is added to the portal, trends in the variability in asthma care across the UK should guide future health policy decisions to improve clinical outcomes for people with asthma."