Basingstoke MP Maria Miller is supporting the new Taskforce for Lung Health, which brings together 25 representatives from across the lung health sector including patients, voluntary sector, professional associations, primary and secondary healthcare. The aim of the Taskforce is to develop a single five-year plan for improving lung health in England, endorsed by the whole respiratory community.
As well as bringing together the lung health community, the Taskforce will help build public awareness and understanding of lung health and how to keep your lungs as healthy as possible.
Respiratory disease is one of the top three killers in the UK and it is estimated that the NHS spends £9.9billion each year on lung disease, including lung cancer and respiratory infections, making it the fourth most costly disease area.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any improvements in the number of people dying from lung disease in over a decade. And whilst there are examples of effective services and good practice, it hasn’t previously been pulled together into a single plan covering the whole patient pathway, from prevention through to end of life. The Taskforce is hoping to change that.
As a first step, the Taskforce has opened a call for evidence to identify what needs to change in how we prevent, diagnose and treat lung disease.
Maria said: “In the UK, 115,000 people die as a result of lung disease every year and this figure is not improving. I very much support the setting up of this pioneering new Taskforce to tackle this.”
“6,500 people in Basingstoke have asthma and 1,500 have COPD. I would urge Basingstoke residents to get involved with the Taskforce’s work by telling them about their experiences at blf.org.uk/your-evidence."