Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to tackle the backlogs in (a) respiratory diagnosis and (b) referrals for urgent care for people with lung conditions.

Through its communication to general practitioner practices and commissioners on 31 July 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement asked general practice to restore activity to usual levels where clinically appropriate and reach out proactively to clinically vulnerable patients and those whose care may have been delayed.

Through national and regional campaigns, the National Health Service continues to make the public aware that the NHS is available to help them and to come forward as they would have done prior to the pandemic with their health concerns. A national campaign to encourage the public to seek help when necessary began in October 2020 in partnership with Public Health England.