Poor lung health is a huge driver of health inequality
People living in the most deprived areas are more likely to be admitted in an emergency for a respiratory illness, and are disproportionately exposed to air pollution. People from ethnically minoritised communities are also disproportionately exposed compared to white communities, regardless of deprivation levels.
Prevention is better than cure
Bridging the health gap will only be possible if politicians commit to preventing poor lung health in the first place. This means action to cut smoking rates, tackle air pollution, and address wider issues such as housing.
People deserve good care, everywhere
The right care can help people manage their lung conditions, reduce pressure on the NHS and address health inequalities, but it isn’t delivered consistently. We’re calling for dedicated lung health plans in all four nations of the UK to make sure everyone gets the care they deserve.
Investing in scientific research
Lung health research has been underfunded for too long. We need more public spending to help us understand more about lung conditions, develop tools to make diagnosis faster and more accurate, and to develop new treatments that work for everyone.
Inequalities have long been a striking feature of lung diseases in the UK. Of the many indignities associated with being poor, or relatively so, having increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or dying of lung cancer or pneumonia are among the worst. The tragedy of it is that we know quite a bit about what to do to prevent this needless suffering.