Charity urges action as avoidable pneumonia hospitalisations soar

Charity Asthma + Lung UK is warning a rising number of people requiring emergency care for pneumonia in England risks a crisis for respiratory care –  increasing pressure on an already stretched NHS.

The charity’s analysis of the latest available annual NHS England data shows that between April 2024 and March 2025 there were 579,475 cases of pneumonia requiring emergency hospitalisation. This compared to 461,995 cases between April 2022 and March 2023, showing a staggering increase of 25.4% in just two years¹.

These figures include all pneumonia cases requiring emergency care, both those rushed to hospital with the condition and people who caught pneumonia while already in hospital and then needed further emergency care.

While the latest figures for this fiscal year are not yet available, the charity is concerned that numbers will continue to rise, with the backdrop of another tough winter and a difficult flu season. It warns that many of these pneumonia cases are avoidable and could be prevented if there was better provision of basic care for people with existing lung conditions. Those with lung conditions are much more susceptible to catching pneumonia as their lungs’ natural defences are already weakened.

Pneumonia is a type of chest infection that affects tiny air sacs, called alveoli, in your lungs. It can be caused by a bacterial infection or virus, such as flu, RSV or Covid-19. When people catch pneumonia, it can make it harder to breathe. People with lung conditions, whose symptoms are not well managed at home, are at much greater risk of catching pneumonia as their lungs’ natural defences are already weakened.

Pneumonia can be deadly and is consistently the single biggest cause of emergency admissions, more than double the number of admissions of the next biggest conditions which include sepsis and heart failure ². Between April 2022 to March 2025 NHS England data shows more than 97,000 people died of pneumonia after ending up in hospital³.

Asthma + Lung UK’s analysis also showed that people experiencing greater deprivation were 36% more likely to be admitted to hospital with pneumonia⁴. Often people with lung conditions experiencing greater deprivation are more likely to live in damp, mouldy and poorly ventilated housing or areas of high air pollution, making it more difficult to manage their lung condition⁵. Poorly managed lung conditions leave people at greater risk of catching pneumonia, and becoming seriously ill with the infection.

Studies show that people with COPD are four times more likely, and those with asthma three times more likely, to catch pneumonia than the general population^6,7 . When lung conditions like asthma, COPD and bronchiectasis are poorly controlled people’s lungs are much more susceptible to catching the infection. Even when successfully treated, pneumonia can often worsen people’s existing lung conditions.

Asthma + Lung UK believes that an important step to halting the rise in pneumonia cases is to focus on better basic care provision for people with lung conditions in community settings, like GP practices. This would ensure that people with lung conditions are given the right support to better manage their conditions independently, so they lessen their risk of catching pneumonia and avoid deteriorating to the point where they need to go to hospital. This also aligns with the Government’s aim to shift the focus of care from sickness to prevention.

Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, and respiratory specialist GP said: “These alarming figures are the result of respiratory care being neglected and deprioritised for too long. Catching pneumonia is often seen as inevitable, but we forget that most people who are hospitalised with the condition have pre-existing conditions such as COPD. Everyone with a lung condition should be getting the care they deserve to reduce their chance of catching pneumonia.

“Following recommended basic care guidelines for respiratory conditions can save and transform lives. I’ve seen first-hand with my patients the dramatic effect good basic care has on reducing hospital admissions.

“However, too often we’re not getting the basics right and the result is increasing A&E and hospital pressures, rising healthcare costs and people with lung conditions left to deteriorate without support.”

Asthma + Lung UK has found that basic care for people with lung conditions has stagnated in recent years, meaning far too many people are not receiving the recommended care they need to manage their condition. The charity’s recent survey on basic care showed that just 3 in 10 (32%) of respondents with asthma received all the fundamental elements of basic care to help them manage their condition. The situation is even worse for people with COPD, with less than 1 in 10 (8.8%) receiving the fundamentals of basic care, a dramatic drop from 2021 when nearly a quarter (24.5%) were receiving the care they needed⁸.

Basic care can be as simple as receiving regular treatment reviews, creating ‘action plans’ with clinicians to know what to do when your condition gets worse, and ensuring people are given all necessary vaccinations, including the RSV, flu and pneumococcal vaccine. Between April 2024 to March 2025, vaccine coverage for the pneumococcal vaccine for those aged 2 to 64, in clinical at-risk groups was just 47.5%⁹. When done right, simple steps can save lives.

The charity believes a national strategy for respiratory illness in England, known as a Modern Service Framework (MSF), could dramatically improve basic care provision and respiratory outcomes. The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan, released last year, promised these strategies for all major health conditions¹⁰. Conditions like mental health and cancer are rightfully having their own strategies developed, but lung health remains a long-neglected area of concern despite the significant pressure that urgent and emergency respiratory care places on all parts of the NHS.

Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “These figures are a stark reminder of the toll that rising pneumonia cases is not only taking on the NHS, but on people lung conditions who are being let down by a system that is failing them. The sad truth is that in many instances these cases are preventable if people got the basic care they need in the community.

“Too many people with lung conditions go from crisis point to crisis point. If the Government is serious about moving from sickness to prevention, urgent change is desperately needed to fix a broken system that leaves people relying on emergency care. These findings should be a wake-up call that we need a national strategy for lung health to reduce hospital cases for illnesses like pneumonia and ensure everyone with a lung condition gets the support they deserve.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors     

For more information or for interview requests, please contact the press team on 0207 786 4949 or  press@asthmaandlung.org.uk  

Asthma + Lung UK has a free Winter Wellness Guide to help people stay well this winter. Sign up here: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/withyouthiswinter

References

¹ NHS England data requested by Asthma + Lung UK, which shows the increase in episodes of pneumonia as the primary reason for admission in England between April 2022-March 2023 and April 2024-March 2025. This includes those taken to hospital for pneumonia and those already in hospital who catch pneumonia and require emergency care. Produced in collaboration with HSJ Information. This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. Secondary care data is taken from the English Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database produced by NHS England, Copyright © 2025, NHS England. Re-used with the permission of NHS England. All rights reserved. 

² NHS England data requested by Asthma + Lung UK, which shows the top 5 specific conditions in emergency admissions for April 2024 to March 2025. This leaves out reasons for admission that are not due to a specific condition, like ‘abdominal and pelvic pain’ or ‘unspecified acute lower respiratory infection’ which cover a range of issues. Produced in collaboration with HSJ Information. This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. Secondary care data is taken from the English Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database produced by NHS England, Copyright © 2025, NHS England. Re-used with the permission of NHS England. All rights reserved. 

³ NHS England data requested by Asthma + Lung UK, which shows the number of deaths after hospital admission with pneumonia as the primary cause between April 2022-March 2023 and April 2024-March 2025. Produced in collaboration with HSJ Information. This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. Secondary care data is taken from the English Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database produced by NHS England, Copyright © 2025, NHS England. Re-used with the permission of NHS England. All rights reserved. 

⁴ NHS England data requested by Asthma + Lung UK, showing the deprivation gaps for pneumonia emergency admissions, where pneumonia is the primary diagnosis. Produced in collaboration with HSJ Information. This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support. Secondary care data is taken from the English Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database produced by NHS England, Copyright © 2025, NHS England. Re-used with the permission of NHS England. All rights reserved. 

The Indices of Deprivation measure of relative deprivation at a small local area level (Lower-layer Super Output Areas) across England – more information available on the Task Force for Lung Health dashboard (accessible here)

⁵ Gray, N. R., Lewis, A. C., & Moller, S. J. Deprivation based inequality in NOx emissions in England. Environmental Science: Advances, 2(9), 1261-1272 – 2023 (Accessed here)

⁶ Janson, C., Johansson, G., Ställberg, B. et al.  Identifying the associated risks of pneumonia in COPD patients: ARCTIC an observational study. Respir Res 19, 172 (2018).

⁷ Ekbom, E., Quint, J., Schöler, L. et al. Asthma and treatment with inhaled corticosteroids: associations with hospitalisations with pneumonia. BMC Pulm Med 19, 254 (2019).

⁸ Life with a Lung Condition 2025 Basic care briefing, Asthma + Lung UK - December 2025 (Accessed here)

⁹ Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV): coverage report, England,, April 2024 to March 2025. UK Health Security Agency, August 2025 (Accessed here)

¹⁰ Our ambition for respiratory disease, NHS England 2022 (Accessed here)

Asthma + Lung UK   

Asthma + Lung UK is the only charity in the UK fighting for everyone with a lung condition, aiming for a world where everyone can breathe with healthy lungs. We fund cutting-edge research and provide advice and support for the 12 million people who will get a lung condition during their lifetime. We also campaign for clean air and for better NHS diagnosis and treatment. For further information visit asthmaandlung.org.uk.