§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to improve services for pulmonary rehabilitation for those suffering from chronic respiratory diseases. [72928]
§ Ms BlearsWe are aware that provision of pulmonary rehabilitation is a service increasingly offered by local departments of respiratory medicine.
332WThe amount spent on staff from temping agencies for the period requested is shown in the table.
It is a decision for primary care trusts, in partnership with other local stakeholders, to assess the health needs of their populations, including those needing pulmonary rehabilitation, and to commission services to meet those needs.
We have also commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to prepare clinical guidelines for the National Health Service in England and Wales for the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is expected that the guidelines should be issued around February 2004.