CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Early day motion 997, tabled 23 March 2005 by Lord Foster of Bishop Auckland (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House welcomes the continued efforts of primary care trusts to prevent the need for patients suffering from chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) to be admitted to hospital as a result of their condition; notes that up to three million people suffer from this debilitating and life-threatening condition in the UK; further notes that avoiding hospitalisation can improve the quality and length of life for these patients and that there are major benefits to the NHS as a whole, reducing the burden on hospitals, freeing beds for use by other patients and reducing waiting times; congratulates those primary care trusts that are actively improving and providing excellent treatment for COPD patients, but notes significant variation in the quality of care from one trust to another; calls for pulmonary rehabilitation to be made available more consistently in all primary care trusts; and regrets that only 1.7 per cent. of patients currently have access to such pulmonary rehabilitation.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 5, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.