Virendra Sharma MP is urging the government to formally support the Taskforce for Lung Health’s five year plan so that everyone with a lung condition gets the best possible support and care. The Taskforce is a unique collaboration between patients, healthcare professionals and charities, who last year published the first ever national plan to improve lung health in England.Every five minutes, someone in the UK dies from lung disease. Respiratory disease is one of the top three killers in the UK after cancer and heart disease. Despite this, there haven’t been any improvements in the number of people dying from lung disease in over a decade.
By supporting the Taskforce, Mr Sharma is hoping to drive improvements to lung health locally and nationally. Currently, around one in five people live with a lung condition, but lung disease has been overlooked and under prioritised for many years. Compared to other countries, we diagnose lung disease much too late. And then, we fail to provide the most effective treatments to everyone who needs them.
He told Asian Voice, "It’s vital we change the way we care and support people with lung disease. I am committed to supporting those in Ealing Southall who are affected by respiratory disease. Preventing more people from developing a lung condition in future is also crucial, by investing in stop smoking services and tackling air pollution".
