Call for more hospital beds to cope with winter breathing difficulties

Air pollution, an ageing population and smoking causing crisis in A&E departments, says British Lung Foundation report

Hospitals need to provide more beds in the winter months to deal with the rising numbers of adults and children who struggle to breathe, according to a report that warns this is a major cause of the crisis in accident and emergency departments.

The report from the British Lung Foundation says more and more people are ending up in an already hard-pressed A&Es because of the increase in breathing problems caused by air pollution, an ageing population and the long-term effects of heavy smoking.