Competing interests: WC reports personal fees for lecturing and advisory board work from: GlaxoSmithKline, Trudell Medical International, Orion Medical and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. SC has received funding from Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Napp, Novartis, Teva and Circassia. SF has received funding from Novartis and is co-treasurer of the Severe Asthma Nurses Network which organises conferences for professional development. AG reports fees for lecturing/advisory board work from: GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim and Astra Zeneca. He has been CI/PI of the the clinical trials with GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, & Airosnett for which his institution has been paid. He is also a director of the non-profit organisation Paediatric Respiratory Academy which organises educational meetings. SH works as a GP, he is funded for 1/2 session per week as a clinical commissioner, has received funding from Astra Zeneca, Beximco, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Glaxo Smith Kline, Johnson and Johnson, Mylan, Napp, Novartis, Nutricia, Orion, Pfizer, Sandoz, Teva and Trudell Medical International. PN has received funding from Novartis. ML reports personal fees from: Clement Clarke International, Teva, Astra Zeneca, Chiesi, Orion Pharmaceuticals, Napp Pharmaceuticals, Soar Beyond, Trudell Pharmaceuticals, National Services for Health Improvement, a company providing services for practices (Nurse asthma Reviews), Novartis Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, reimbursement of travel and accommodation support from GINA, grants from Conzorcio Futuro In Ricerca, personal fees from, non-financial support from Asthma and COPD (Joint) Lead for Whole Systems Integrated Care (WSIC) NorthWest London.