1. How is the Welsh Government supporting people who have been affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? OAQ(5)0263(FM)

Our approach to respiratory health is set out in the national delivery plan, and is being led by the respiratory health implementation group.

Thank you, First Minister. I recently met with the British Lung Foundation to discuss access to pulmonary rehabilitation services for the 2,000 people in my constituency living with COPD. While those in the north Cynon GP cluster are transported to Merthyr with relative ease, those in the south can face difficulties, having to travel to Tonypandy, often over two mountains, for their pulmonary rehabilitation. Ahead of tomorrow’s World COPD Day, what can the Welsh Government do to improve access to this cost-effective treatment in the Cynon valley?

Well, we do recognise that there are areas where access is difficult, and it’s why we’re improving access to validated exercise programmes as part of the respiratory disease implementation group’s priority areas. The group is creating an all-Wales data set, to better understand provision and uptake, in order to make sure that the reach is as deep as possible, in order for the programmes to be delivered properly. So, access is an issue that is being considered at this moment in time.

The national exercise referral scheme can help with the rehabilitation of people with COPD, as well as, of course, people with other health issues. The scheme is funded by Welsh Government but, nevertheless, local authorities in South Wales West charge for the service. Access to the scheme is through GP referral and, bearing in mind that, obviously, your Government supports free prescriptions, why is this, which is effectively exercise on prescription, any different?

Well, if somebody receives a prescription, of course, then the approach can be different. But we want to make sure that there is a fair balance between what an individual is expected to contribute and what is available to that individual. And we see that there are good results. For example, there’s been a decline in the overall rate of people dying from a respiratory health condition by 10 per cent, as well as an 11.1 per cent decline in the number of emergency admissions related to respiratory conditions between 2013 and 2014.