Respiratory conditions such as Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are a major challenge for health systems in the UK. Someone in the UK dies of lung disease every five minutes, and it is the poorest people in our society who are twice as likely to develop lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Before the pandemic, 1 in 3 people waited longer than six months for a diagnosis of lung disease. Some lung conditions, can have a substantial impact on life expectancy, so any delays to diagnosis could have a monumental impact on a person’s ability to access timely treatment and care. Analysis of referral data showed that during the first lockdown alone, around 500-600 people may have missed out on a referral for specialist care, treatment or diagnosis in BANES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG.

The potential backlog is likely to have led to many people with lung disease needing to seek emergency care because they will not have had timely support to manage their condition. As data on respiratory care is patchy, it is difficult to tell the full impact on people living with lung conditions. But what we know so far, presents a deeply worrying picture of what the true cost of the pandemic, to patients living with lung disease, may look like.

In addition evidence is being published showing that like many respiratory infections COVID-19 can cause lasting lung damage for patients who become infected, leading to potentially new referrals to these already stretched services. .