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Respiratory Diseases: Rehabilitation

Asked by Jim ShannonDemocratic Unionist PartyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 18 March 2026UIN 119274

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to expand community-based rehabilitation services for people recovering from long-term respiratory illnesses.

Answered by Karin Smyth

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) services that meet the needs of their local populations, including delivery in community settings. To improve referral rates for PR, NHS England has issued guidance to ICBs on strengthening PR workforce capacity, ensuring safe staffing levels, and developing accessible service models to reduce health inequalities. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/pulmonary-rehabilitation-workforce/

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