Thorax
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The aim was to establish a continuing district based confidential enquiry into deaths from asthma. ⋯ This study has shown the feasibility of organising a confidential enquiry into asthma deaths within a health district. The distinguishing features of such an enquiry are that it is continuing, that the quality of care given to those patients who died is compared against a recognised standard, and that there is a structured system for feeding back the conclusions of the enquiry to the local medical community.