§ Harry Cohen:To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are for a national service framework on lung disease; and if he will make a statement. [131775]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson:There are no plans for a national service framework (NSF). We are, however, taking steps to improve services for people with lung disease. The children's NSF will include childhood asthma as an exemplar condition. The NSF for chronic heart disease already has a reduction in cigarette smoking as one of its major targets. We have also banned tobacco advertising and made smoking reduction aids available on national health service prescription.
Additionally we have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare guidelines for the management and diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We expect this guidance to be produced in 2004. Also, phase three of the national primary care collaborative (NPCC) focuses on chronic disease management, in particular COPD and diabetic care. The programme, which wild be rolled out to every primary care trust (PCT) in the country by April 2004, will support frontline NHS staff and primary care trust managers and will involve 20 PCTs and more than 100 general practitioner practices. It will help them to develop skills and techniques to deliver improvements in care and work with patients to maximise their self-care and help improve outcomes.