Asthma Australia calls for stronger prevention as hospitals face record winter demand
05 Aug 2026
The organisation says helping people manage asthma before it becomes a crisis could reduce avoidable hospital visits and ease pressure on hospitals during winter.
This week, New South Wales recorded its busiest winter day on record, with almost 10,000 emergency department presentations in a single day. In Western Australia, ambulance ramping also reached its highest level this year, with ambulances spending almost 6,000 hours waiting outside hospitals during July.
Asthma Australia said emergency departments are essential for people experiencing severe asthma attacks, but many asthma-related hospital visits could be avoided through better long-term care.
Around 2.8 million Australians are living with asthma. During 2023–24, asthma was the main reason for approximately 32,000 hospital admissions across the country. The organisation estimates that up to 90% of these admissions could be prevented with effective asthma management in the community.
Asthma Australia's Medical Advisor, Professor John Blakey, said the annual increase in winter hospital demand highlights the importance of supporting people before their condition worsens.
He said good asthma management relies on ongoing education, personalised treatment plans and regular support from trained healthcare professionals, but many Australians are still missing out on these services.
Asthma Australia is calling on state and federal governments to increase investment in:
- community-based asthma education
- self-management support programs
- multidisciplinary severe asthma centres.
The organisation says strengthening preventive asthma care could reduce avoidable hospital admissions, improve patient outcomes and help relieve pressure on emergency departments during future winter seasons.
Asthma Australia calls for stronger prevention as hospitals face record winter demand
Source: Asthma Australia