LUNG disease is one of the biggest killers in the United Kingdom and Ludlow MP and former health minister Philip Dunne is joining a campaign to raise awareness of the problem.

He is supporting a new Taskforce for Lung Health, which brings together 25 representatives from across the lung health sector including patients, voluntary sector, professional associations, primary and secondary healthcare.

The aim of the Taskforce is to develop a single five-year plan for improving lung health in England, endorsed by the whole respiratory community.

As well as bringing together the lung health community, the Taskforce will help build public awareness and understanding of lung health and how to keep your lungs as healthy as possible.

Respiratory disease is one of the top three killers in the UK.

One in five people have been diagnosed with a lung condition at some point in their lives and every year, 115,000 people die as a result of lung disease.

It is estimated that the NHS spends £9.9billion each year on lung disease, including lung cancer and respiratory infections, making it the fourth most costly disease area.

“I am pleased to support the work of this new Taskforce to review comprehensively the nation’s lung health and devise a plan to reduce the number of people dying from lung disease - which hasn’t changed in a decade,” said Philip Dunne.

Anyone in south Shropshire who has experience of living with a lung disease, like asthma, COPD, lung cancer or pulmonary fibrosis, can get involved and tell the Taskforce about their experiences at www.blf.org.uk/taskforce.