British Thoracic Society (BTS) - Lobbying for a COPD NSF

Background

The BTS is a society of health professionals committed to improving care for patients with lung disease and raising standards. M&F were tasked with lobbying the Government for a National Service Framework (NSF) for the 30 respiratory conditions that come under the banner of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), often known as a ‘smoker’s disease’.

Support for an NSF within the Department was divided. For example, the Chief Medical Officer had made the case for a NSF in his 2005 annual report, however a Minister at Labour Party Conference had told the BTS that there was little chance of another NSF. Furthermore, news of NHS financial deficits resulted in a Department of Health policy purdah for much of the year. 2006 was thus seen as an intensive final push, with the BTS working closely alongside other respiratory lobbying groups.

Activities

2006 saw the Smokefree Legislation debate dominate the political agenda. The team developed an intensive political contact programme with parliamentarians, health officials and stakeholders to discuss the medical evidence for a ban on smoking, and also ensure that the meetings were used to put across the case for a COPD NSF.

In addition to the well developed evidence that made a robust case for an NSF the team also launched the second Burden of Lung Disease report. Working closely with the Department of Health they were able to coordinate the launch of the report, which showed that cases of COPD took up more than one million bed days in England, with the end of the policy purdah and ensure Ministers had even stronger reasons to announce the NSF.

Impact

In June 2006, Health Minister Rosie Winterton MP used the BTS Parliamentary Launch of the Burden of Lung Disease, as the platform to announce that a NSF for COPD will be in place by 2008/9.