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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Local Assembly Member says more needs to be done for lung disease sufferers
June 17, 2009 12:00 AM
The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Health Spokesperson, Peter Black, has called on Swansea Local Health Board to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation services.
Research by the British Lung Foundation Wales shows that the waiting time for pulmonary rehabilitation services in Swansea can be up to 18 months. In neighbouring Carmarthen, it is only 4 months.
Pulmonary rehabilitation courses are programmes that help people with most types of lung conditions to be more active and confident in managing their condition. Research has proven that the treatment can reduce the number of emergency hospital admissions and the number of days spent in hospital by people with respiratory problems. Estimates are that one in five people in Wales may be affected by a lung disease.
Mr Black said:
"The British Lung Foundation recommends that someone should not have to wait more than 26 weeks for treatment under a pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Eighteen months is far above this time period and can have a drastic affect on the ability to manage their condition."
"Swansea has the worst waiting times of all areas with pulmonary rehabilitation services in Wales. Patients living in Carmarthen have to wait only 4 months and those living in parts of North Wales have to wait only six weeks. It is also the case that whereas in Bridgend, patients can access community rehabilitation, that is not available in Swansea.
"More needs to be done to improve waiting times for this treatment. The evidence suggests that it can reduce the pressure on other parts of the NHS as well as improving the lives of patients. I have written to Swansea Local Health Board to ask what they are doing to improve waiting time for this important service."
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