AM BACKS BREATHE EASY CAMPAIGN

NATIONAL Assembly Member for Monmouth, Nick Ramsay AM is backing the British Lung Foundation Wales' Breathe Easy campaign.

At an event held at the Assembly, British Lung Foundation Wales highlighted the fact that although one in five people in Wales live with a lung condition, patients still face a postcode lottery when it comes to healthcare services.

Nick was concerned to discover that services such as pulmonary rehabilitation are only available in half of Wales. In South East Wales waiting times can be up to 12 months for pulmonary rehabilitation. Also, many patients are forced to travel unacceptable distances to access the service.

Members of Breathe Easy Abergavenny attended the event and relished the opportunity to let Assembly Members know about the services they believe should be made available to all people with lung disease.

Speaking today Nick said: "I very much welcome the British Lung Foundations Breathe Easy Campaign, as well as meet members of Breathe Easy Abergavenny.

"Many people with lung disease, and their carers, face a daily battle to live a relatively normal life. The Breathe Easy campaign helps to strengthen the voice of everyone living with lung diseases such as asthma and asbestos-related diseases.

"I very much support calls made by the British Lung Foundation Wales that adequately financed pulmonary rehabilitation and follow on exercise classes should be made available to everyone in Wales who needs them.

"Research has proven that successful pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce both the number of emergency hospital admissions and the overall number of days spent in hospital for people with respiratory problems. The benefits of providing an adequate service are significant both for those with lung disease and the NHS in Wales."

Head of the British Lung Foundation, Chris Mulholland, added: "Despite all the challenges of providing a health service fit for the 21^st Century this simply isn't good enough. We welcome everyone's support in driving forward improvement."