Henry Smith, Crawley MP, used a high profile event in Westminster this week to discuss what can be done to reduce respiratory deaths and improve services for respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). 

Commenting, Henry said: 

“Having spoken to and supported the concerns of a number of constituents who suffer from respiratory conditions, or who have lost family members to COPD or asthma, I was pleased to help launch the report aimed at ensuring that people with asthma, like myself, and other respiratory conditions get the care they deserve. I want to stop other people losing loved ones to asthma and COPD. 

“The fact is, while great progress has been made towards tackling cancer and cardiovascular disease in recent years, in contrast respiratory disease has failed to receive the support that it needs. I’m concerned that Crawley folk are paying the price of this oversight, with the UK experiencing higher mortality than our European counterparts. 

“I believe that, in helping to launch the All-Party Parliamentary Group’s (APPG) report, it will help shine a light on this area of UK healthcare.” 

Respiratory disease is the third biggest cause of death, killing an estimated 80,000 people a year in the UK (with an estimated further 35,000 dying of lung cancer). It is also thought to be responsible for around a million hospital admissions each year. In addition, COPD alone kills around 30,000 people a year in the UK. There are over 5 million people with asthma in the UK and three people die every day in the UK because of the condition. 

The Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, made a commitment to reduce premature mortality from respiratory conditions in March 2013. However, the APPG report on Respiratory Health highlights that more can still be done.