Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of patients with lung disease admitted to accident and emergency departments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and asthma emphasise the importance of avoiding emergency admissions for patients with lung diseases. The introduction of an Enhanced Service for general practitioners in 2015-16, continuing in 2016-17, is designed to help reduce avoidable unplanned admissions by improving services for vulnerable patients and those with complex health needs, who are at high risk of admission.