§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district general hospitals offer pulmonary rehabilitation services; and whether it is his policy to extend and fund the pulmonary rehabilitation services in all such hospitals. [121282]
§ Dr. LadymanThat information is not held centrally. However, a recent survey by the British Lung Foundation (BLF) and British Thoracic Society (BTS) found that 160 out of 266 hospitals across the country provide some form of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing a guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 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 (PCTS) to commission and deliver high quality allergy and respiratory care.
Substantial new investment in both health and social care services were 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.
It is the role of strategic health authorities, in partnership with I'CTs, 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.
§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when pulmonary rehabilitation will be available to lung patients in all parts of the country. [121448]
§ Dr. LadymanWe do not keep information about the specific availability of pulmonary rehabilitation services throughout the country. However, a recent survey by the British Lung Foundation and the British Thoracic Society found that out of 266 hospitals across the country, 160 provide some form of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing a guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 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.