More than 200,000 asthma sufferers in Scotland may not be not getting basic care, putting them at an increased risk of a life-threatening asthma attack, according to a new report.

Asthma UK is calling on healthcare professionals to make sure they are giving guidelines-based care to people with the condition, and to make sure they attend their medical appointments.

Findings in 'The reality of asthma care in the UK: Annual Asthma Survey 2018', which surveyed more than 10,000 people with asthma, including 916 from Scotland, reveal that more than half (60 per cent) of people with asthma are not getting the basic care that could keep them out of hospital.

The number of people in Scotland with asthma is around 368,000, so according to the survey's results this means that around 60 per cent of these people (220,000) may not be getting basic asthma care.

This includes having an asthma review every year, being on the right medication, being taught the correct inhaler technique and, most importantly, having a written asthma action plan which explains how to manage your condition on a daily basis and spot worsening symptoms.

The National Review of Asthma Deaths found that two thirds of asthma deaths could have been prevented if people had received basic asthma care.

Asthma UK’s report also reveals that 79 per cent of people with asthma in Scotland may not have their asthma under control, meaning they could be struggling with symptoms which interfere with everyday activities on a daily basis.

Dr Samantha Walker, Asthma UK's director of policy and research, said: “It is deeply concerning that potentially hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland with asthma may not be getting vital basic care which could prevent a life-threatening asthma attack. It shouldn’t matter where people live, they should get the basic asthma care that could save their life.

“Healthcare professionals need to make sure they are giving everyone with asthma the basic, guidelines-based care they deserve, and people with asthma should take responsibility for their own health by attending appointments and taking their medication as prescribed.

NHS Scotland needs to embrace technology as a mainstay of asthma management, such as piloting smart inhalers.

"It also needs to ensure that patients’ data and records are linked to ensure asthma attacks are recorded, managed and prevented so people who have had an asthma attack in hospital get appropriate follow up care from their GP.”

Asthma UK says that NHS Scotland needs to ensure that people with asthma can access GP care when they need it and embrace the use of digital tools and platforms, such as sending text message reminders for their appointments.