WORLD CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY AWARENESS DAY

That this House notes that 15th November was World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) day; notes that three million people in the United Kingdom could have COPD, a group of respiratory diseases which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema; further notes that the number of people killed by COPD each year is more than 20 times as many killed by asthma; is concerned by the World Health Organisation estimate that by 2020 COPD will be the third leading cause of death worldwide; further notes that smoking accounts for four out of five cases of COPD; and calls on the Government to take steps to improve services for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of COPD.