Ministers told to treat lung health as ‘national emergency’ and rewrite ‘vague’ action plan
MINISTERS have been told to rewrite its action plan for overhauling respiratory care services – amid demands for the blueprint to focus on “definitive targets over vague commitments”.
A public consultation on helping to inform the Scottish Government’s respiratory care action plan has now closed, but campaigners have stressed that in light on the Covid-19 pandemic, lung health should be treated “as a national priority”.
The British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK are also calling for health boards to be handed additional funding in help officials draw up plans for new services.
As the Covid-19 virus remains a threat to public health and the possibility of a second wave this winter, campaigners are warning respiratory services were already running at capacity before the crisis and now face the added strain of catching up on a backlog of patients – as well as those suffering with Covid-19 related illnesses.
Joseph Carter, head of Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Scotland, said: “To keep our nation’s lungs as health as possible, we need a more ambitious care plan with definitive targets over vague commitments.
“Life for those with respiratory conditions has changed dramatically in the last few months and we think the plan should reflect these new circumstances people have found themselves in.
“We are therefore calling on the Scottish Government to make respiratory health a national priority, rewrite the strategy and give health boards the resources they need to develop new services to keep people with lung conditions safe and well.”
The draft five-year plan warns “the pressures placed on secondary care respiratory units is far greater than ever before” and focuses on asthma, bronchiectasis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Idiopathic Pulmonary
Fibrosis (IPF) and Obstructive Sleep
Apnoea Syndrome.
The final plan is expected to be published in the early part of 2021.
A Government spokesman said: “Although our efforts are currently concentrated on saving lives, we are also planning how our NHS can move forward after this crisis has passed. C
“Caring for those who need ongoing help after Covid-19 will be an important part of that.
“As we continue to develop our understanding of the impact the virus has had on the health of the people of Scotland, the final respiratory care plan will play an important part in our response.
“Any need for additional resources will be considered as we finalise the plan.”