§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients in England; [121765]
(2) if he will provide secure funding for pulmonary rehabilitation programmes in every hospital. [121766]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 26 June 2003]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing a guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary and secondary care. NICE is due to publish the guideline in 2004. In January 2003, the Respiratory Alliance published their guidance, "Bridging the Gap", which aims to help primary care trusts to commission and deliver high quality allergy and respiratory care. Local British Lung Foundation "Breathe Easy" groups often reinforce pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.
Information is not held centrally regarding the proportion of people with COPD who can access pulmonary rehabilitation. However, a recent survey by the British Lung Foundation and the British Thoracic Society found that 160 out of 266 hospitals across the country provide some form of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients. A wide range of patients can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. These include those with chronic lung diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, or lung tumours. Most pulmonary rehabilitation programs include medical management, education, emotional support, exercise, breathing retraining, and nutritional counselling. The objective is to help people gain the highest level of function and independence possible, and to improve overall quality of life.
Substantial new investment in both health and social care services was announced in the 2002 Budget. This amounts to the largest sustained increase in funding of any five-year period in the history of the national health service. Over the years 2003–04 to 2007–08, these plans mean that expenditure on the NHS in England will increase on average by 7.4 per cent. a year over and above inflation—a total increase over the period of 43 per cent. in real terms. This means that over the same five-year period, there will be an increase of £34 billion.
158WIt is the role of strategic health authorities, in partnership with primary care trusts, to decide what services to provide for their populations including those with respiratory conditions. They are best placed to understand local health needs and commission services to meet them.