A new Taskforce to help raise awareness of lung health and maintaining healthy lungs has received the backing of Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins.

The ‘Taskforce for Lung Health’ 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.

Toby said, “People often don’t realise how many people are affected by lung conditions. In Chesterfield, there are over 7,000 people living with asthma and over 2,500 with COPD. These conditions can have a debilitating effect on people’s ability to lead an active life and contribute towards other health complications. We need a better understanding of how to maintain healthy lungs, and greater awareness of what treatments are available if we do have a lung condition.”

Respiratory disease is one of the top three killers in the UK with 1 in 5 people diagnosed with a lung condition at some point in their lives and 115,000 people dying each year as a result of lung disease. 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.

Toby added, “We have seen huge strides made in the past by reducing smoking and related diseases, but the British Lung Foundation (BFL) have highlighted that there has been very little improvement in the number of people dying from lung disease over the last ten years. This is of particular concern to me as figures from the BFL show that compared to the national average, people living in the Chesterfield are 8% more likely to die from asthma, 11% more likely to die from COPD, and 7% more likely to die from lung cancer.  I fully support the new Taskforce which will hopefully identify what needs to change in how we prevent, diagnose and treat lung disease and prevent early deaths.”

Toby at the launch of the new Taskforce for Lung Health
Toby at the launch of the new Taskforce for Lung Health
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