Reviewed on : 15 Oct 2025

Reviewed by : GP Gateway Editor

Expires : 15 Oct 2027

Children and Young People Asthma Pathway at North Warwickshire and Rugby Community Diagnostic Centres

The Physiological Sciences Services aim to deliver a Multidisciplinary Asthma Diagnostic Pathway for children and young people (C&YP) aged 5-16 years

The pathway is designed to support GP’s and other community services in delivering timely and accurate asthma diagnosis in line with NICE and BTS/SIGN guidelines

The pathway is a specialist-led multidisciplinary service, providing a one-stop clinic approach that includes:

• Specialist-led assessment of children with suspected asthma
• Access to objective diagnostic testing (spirometry, FeNO, bronchodilator reversibility, cardio-pulmonary exercise testing)
• Review and input from a multidisciplinary team including, Clinical Scientists, Paediatricians, and Specialist Respiratory Nurses
• Personalised asthma management plans to support ongoing care in primary settings

This service aims to reduce delays in diagnosis, avoid unnecessary treatment provision, and provide families and clinicians with appropriate treatment plans

How to refer:

Referrals for North Warwickshire can be made via the electronic referral system (e-RS): Community Diagnostic Centre: Breathlessness (chronic/ undiagnosed)

Patients may be accepted from Coventry and South Warwickshire subject to available capacity and pending establishment of further local services

Referrals for the Rugby and South Warwickshire area (including Postcodes CV21, CV22, CV23, Rugby, CV47 Southam, NN11, NN6 Northampton, CV8 Kenilworth, CV3, CV7 Coventry) can be made via electronic referral system (e-RS): Respiratory Community Diagnostic Centre: Community Rugby St Cross or via email to respiratorycdc@uhcw.nhs.uk

• North Warwickshire Contact:

For further information or to speak to a member of the team, please contact the Physiological Sciences Service on 02476865128

• Rugby Contact:

For further information or to speak to a member of the team, please contact Respiratory and Sleep Sciences on 02476 966734

Background

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease, characterised by airway hyperresponsiveness, bronchoconstriction and reversible airflow obstruction

It is a common multifactorial disease influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and leads to episodic symptoms typically of dyspnoea, cough, wheeze and chest tightness¹

Asthma is one of the most common long-term conditions in children in the UK, with around 1 in 11 children diagnosed with the condition^2,3

The diagnosis of asthma in CYP involves a thorough clinical evaluation, detailed history taking, and appropriate diagnostic investigations^1,3.

Indication to Refer

Red flag symptoms

Breathless Pathway Referral

 Clinical Assessment

Investigations

Potential Diagnosis

Children and Young People Asthma Pathway North Warwickshire Community Diagnostic Centr

References

Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA], 2024. 2024 GINA Main Report Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention

Childhood athma NHS England https://www.england.nhs.uk/childhood-asthma

Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (BTS, NICE, SIGN)

NICE guideline Reference number:NG245 Published:  27 November 2024