Scottish lung health charity says £3 million urgently needed to better diagnose lung conditions

With nearly one in five people in Scotland estimated to be living with a lung condition, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is urging politicians to make respiratory health a priority ahead of the May elections (1).

Released on 9th March 2025

Approximately 720,000 people have asthma in Scotland and a further 241,000 are estimated to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).2 

However, the actual number of people living with a lung condition is believed to be far higher as many live undiagnosed, without access to the right tests needed for an accurate diagnosis.

With Scotland due to go to the polls in two months, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland has launched its charity manifesto ‘Our Battle for Breath – Policy Priorities for the next Scottish Government’.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland believes people should have better access to healthcare so that people with a suspected lung condition can get a timely diagnosis.

Good respiratory care starts with a timely diagnosis, but too few people can see a GP and start the process, with some taking years to get a definitive one. Annual polling from the charity of 1,000 people in Scotland showed just over four in five respondents (81.9%) are concerned about getting a GP appointment. 

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland believes people should have better access to healthcare so that people with a suspected lung condition can get a swift diagnosis.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland believes a £3 million recovery fund, used for standard respiratory tests like spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), delivered either in primary care or through local diagnostic hubs, would dramatically speed up diagnosis for people in Scotland.

A spirometry test is a non invasive breathing test that measures lung function by calculating how much air you can exhale in one breath. FeNo testing is a simple breath test that measures the level of nitric oxide in your breath to detect inflammation in the airways. Both are used to diagnose and monitor lung conditions. 

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is also calling on the Scottish Government to focus on improving treatment and support, and preventing lung conditions by tackling health inequalities, air pollution and smoking rates. As well as the call for a recovery fund, there are twenty asks for political parties including the following three:

  • Roll out lung screening, including appropriate follow-up of incidental findings where other possible lung conditions are identified. Including focussing on smokers, which is proven to find treatable early-stage lung cancer, before symptoms present.
  • Target smoking services to deprived areas where smoking prevalence is higher.
  • Ensure that 100% of adults and children with lung conditions get the basic care they need, to manage their condition, improve their well-being and reduce hospitalisation.

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said:

“For far too long lung conditions have been overlooked and underfunded, leaving people sidelined at home, without diagnosis or effective treatment.

“This is why, one of our main asks of the next Scottish Government is for a £3 million recovery fund to ensure people get a correct and timely diagnosis, helping to clear the backlog of people waiting.

“Without a proper diagnosis, people cannot get the care and treatment they urgently need, worsening their symptoms and resulting in people requiring ambulances and hospitalisations, which ends up costing the NHS more. In addition, people might have to give up work or tragically die prematurely.

“We are urging the next Scottish Government to take forward all our policies covering diagnosis, treatment, support and prevention and we are looking forward to working with them to help make lung health a priority.”

To read Asthma + Lung UK Scotland’s manifesto, ‘Our Battle for Breath’ go to: Our Battle for Breath: Policy Priorities for the next Scottish Government | Asthma + Lung UK

ENDS

References

  1. Chronic lung condition prevalence (asthma, COPD, ILD):

https://thorax.bmj.com/content/thoraxjnl/early/2025/04/08/thorax-2024-222699.full.pdf

Applied to the population estimate for Scotland:

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/publications/mid-2024-population-estimates/

  1. Hannah et al; Incidence and prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease between 2004 and 2023: harmonised analyses of longitudinal cohorts across England, Wales, South-East Scotland and Northern Ireland (fig1) can be accessed here. 

Methodology and polling

The research was conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, among a sample of 1,000 adults in Scotland aged 16+. The data was collected between 19.12.25 - 06.01.25. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Opinion Matters is also a member of the British Polling Council.

81.9% - Combining those who said ‘extremely concerned’ or ‘quite concerned’ to the following question ‘How concerned are you about the following: getting a GP appointment’