Taskforce for Lung Health calls for NHS Modern Service Framework on lung health
Respiratory conditions affect around 1 in 6 people in England and are the third leading cause of death. They are a major driver of NHS pressures, particularly in winter, with breathing issues being the leading cause of all emergency admissions.
The Taskforce for Lung Health, whose members include Asthma + Lung UK, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and the ABPI, has issued a new report.
Breathing Life into the NHS calls on the Government to commit to the development and implementation of a respiratory Modern Service Framework (MSF).
Calls for a respiratory MSF
The Taskforce states: “Due to inconsistent delivery of effective interventions, progress has lagged behind comparable conditions. In order to address this, there must be a more proactive model of care focused on prevention, early intervention, and community delivery, enabled by a respiratory MSF.”
It says that it would improve outcomes for millions of people living with respiratory conditions, and could also help tackle some of the Government’s most pressing priorities. This includes reducing health inequalities, improving NHS productivity and supporting economic participation. It would also support the shift to neighbourhood health services, and strengthen the UK’s life sciences and innovation ecosystem, it adds.
‘A clear framework’
While many effective interventions for respiratory disease already exist, access remains variable and delivery inconsistent.
A respiratory MSF would provide a clear national framework to raise the bar for lung health, reduce unwarranted variation, close widening inequalities, and ensure that proven, scalable solutions are implemented consistently across the country.
Read all about the Breathing Life into the NHS report on the Taskforce website here.