More than 8,000 asthma patients in Oxford are struggling with their symptoms because of sub-standard NHS care, according to statistics published today.

Research by the National Asthma Campaign found that an estimated 74 per cent of the 11,000 people in the city who suffer from the condition have a poor quality of life, which could be improved with proper treatment.

The charity has launched its Breath of Fresh Air campaign outlining the care that asthma patients should expect from the NHS.

But health workers in the city said they had already increased specialist services for asthma sufferers.

The breathing condition can be fatal in extreme cases.

The NAC said 74,000 sufferers were admitted to hospital every year because of the disorder, even though three quarters of them could have avoided emergency treatment if they received regular care.

The NAC hopes a 10-point charter drawn up for its campaign will help sufferers, and guide doctors and nurses. It calls for improved specialist care services.

Oxford Primary Care Trust said it had already tackled all the points in the charter.

PCT assistant manager Liam Williams said: "We have a comprehensive multi-disciplinary primary care service in place to support people suffering from asthma.

"To augment this service further, a team of specialist respiratory nurses have been employed to ensure people suffering exacerbations of their condition have access to expert clinical support in their own homes."

Asthma is also being tackled by Oxfordshire County Council, which has made sure that all schools in the area have a policy to tackle the condition

It also aims to make transport projects in the county asthma-friendly.