§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many pulmonary rehabilitation centres there are in England and Wales; [29355]
(2) what his policy is on the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation centres within the NHS. [29358]
§ Jacqui SmithInformation on local service configuration in England, such as the number of pulmonary rehabilitation services, is not collected centrally. We are aware that provision of pulmonary rehabilitation is a service increasingly offered by local departments of respiratory medicine.
It is a decision for health authorities, in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders, to assess the health needs of their populations, including those needing pulmonary rehabilitation, and to commission services to meet those needs.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the training of specialist respiratory nurses and physiotherapists. [29353]
§ Mr. HuttonMaintaining and extending the skills, potential and careers of national health service staff taking into account service developments and patient need in health and social care is a fundamental part of the NHS Plan and the Framework for Lifelong Learning for the NHS, "Working Together—Learning Together". Copies of these are available in the House of Commons Library.
Training in many specialist areas takes place after registration and there are courses available for respiratory training for both qualified nurses and physiotherapists. Decisions on post-registration training are taken by individual practitioners and local NHS organisations in the light of local needs, and these will be better informed by National Service Framework and NHS Plan priorities.