Study suggests UK has highest lung disease death rate in Western Europe

New analysis suggests more people are dying in the UK from serious lung disease than anywhere else in Western Europe.

 

Charity Asthma and Lung UK (ALUK) found that 500,000 people died from asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory conditions over a seven-year period. They described the state of lung health as “shameful” and called for more funding for treatments and research.

 

According to research published in November 2021, the number of people admitted to hospital for lung conditions in England and Wales has doubled in the last 20 years.

 

ALUK said that one likely cause was air pollution, which is now connected to 36,000 early deaths in the UK each year.

 

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the charity, described the death figures as a “national scandal”.

 

She said “The state of lung health in the UK is shameful, with the numbers of hospital admissions increasing, and air pollution causing people to develop lung conditions or making existing ones worse.”

 

A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said “Improving the lives of people with lung conditions is a clinical priority for the UK.

 

“Since 2017,the National Institute for Health Research has invested over £130 million into respiratory health and disease research.  Alongside this, we’re funding research into respiratory infections and the health impact of air pollution and other environmental exposures.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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