I am publishing today the “Consultation on Services for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in England”.

Since 2005 the Department, the National Health Service and other key stakeholders have been working together to identify the best ways to improve care and outcomes for those people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to reduce the overall prevalence of the condition. Following this work we have developed a set of recommendations for the NHS, further action for the Department and we are now consulting with stakeholders. This document represents the final consultation stage before we publish the final strategy.

We estimate that over three million people in England live with this condition. One person dies in England of COPD every 20 minutes—a loss of about 25,000 lives every year. COPD is also the second most common cause of emergency admission and the fifth largest cause for readmission to hospital. It is also one of the most costly, in terms of acute hospital care.

It has therefore become clear that we need to change our approach to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of the condition. As we have developed the strategy we have had extensive engagement with people with COPD and their carers

The strategy offers a real opportunity to make a difference to people with COPD and their carers. Successful implementation will require ongoing commitment and ambition and the engagement and involvement of all stakeholders.

The strategy does not define how each aspect of care should be delivered. We think services need to be sensitively planned and appropriately delivered in response to the needs of each local community. However, the strategy is designed to support local service plans within the NHS, and to complement other related national and local initiatives. This will include the clinical guidelines developed by NICE and other broader health promotion initiatives such as the national tobacco control programme. With better co-ordinated and integrated services, we can provide care that better meets the complex needs of people with COPD and meets their expectations.

Because of the magnitude of the burden of asthma, we have given separate attention to that condition within this strategy, highlighting where there are synergies in the approach to the care of these conditions and where there are differences. It also highlights some aspects of good asthma services.

“Consultation on Services for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in England” has been placed in the Library and copies are available for hon. Members from the Vote Office.

The consultation will run from 23 February to 5 April 2010.