Air Free app launches to help children and young people in Scotland stay on top of asthma
Air Free, a free app launches to help children and young people (ages 5–17) and their families track asthma control. The app will keep patients personalised action plan handy, and provide access to trusted education, supporting better day-to-day management between clinical reviews. The launch forms part of a wider healthcare innovation programme focused on predicting and preventing asthma attacks, which often build over weeks of poor control before a crisis occurs. The app comes from Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) funded by the Chief Scientist Office from the Scottish Government.
Funded by the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) from the Chief Scientist Office of Scottish Government, the app aims to make a tangible difference for day-to-day management of the condition. Asthma affects around 1 in 11 people in the UK and costs the NHS over £1 billion annually, with outcomes for young people still lagging comparable European countries, highlighting the need for more proactive, data-driven support.
What Air Free will offer
- A digital asthma action plan stored on the phone, so families can quickly check green/amber/red steps.
- Simple symptom and control checks (including ACT) with clear visuals.
- Education links from trusted UK sources to build confidence and self-management.
- Night-time cough monitoring (powered by Hyfe) and step count
- Privacy-first design with user-controlled notifications and avatars for children.
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Andrew Conkie, CEO, Red Star“Families tell us the worst part of asthma is the sudden spiral from ‘fine’ to ‘frightening’. Air Free keeps the plan, the checks, and the learning in one place, so kids, parents and schools can act earlier and feel more in control.”
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Dr Kenneth Macleod, Children’s Asthma Physician (Chief Investigator)“Asthma attacks rarely come out of nowhere. By combining routine health data with signals like night-time cough and activity, we aim to identify higher risk sooner and target help to the right child at the right time.”
Following the launch, a study will take place via the Air Free app to enable optional night-time cough monitoring (powered by Hyfe), step count, daily symptom questions, and asynchronous messaging with the clinical team. The study, co-sponsored by NHS Lothian and ACCORD with Dr Kenneth Macleod as Chief Investigator, will evaluate a risk-stratification pathway that flags higher-risk patients to clinicians for timely interventions.
Availability
- Air Free (general app): Free to download in Scotland on iOS and Android.
- Study participation: Families in the participating NHS Lothian GP cluster may receive invitations once final approvals are in place. (General app users are not part of the study unless invited and consented.)
