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<p>NHS England is committed to reducing health inequalities, and respiratory disease
will be a clinical priority in the National Health Service long-term plan.</p><p>
</p><p>Evidence shows that disadvantaged groups and areas of deprivation experience
higher incidence rates of respiratory disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease and asthma). This is in part due to higher levels of smoking, exposure to
higher levels of air pollution, poor housing conditions, early life experiences and
exposure to occupational hazards.</p><p> </p><p>National programmes such as the Elective
Care Programme, NHS RightCare and Getting It Right First Time are focussing on respiratory
disease management and have outlined the benefits that improvements in this area can
bring to patients.</p><p> </p><p>Cancer of the larynx and lung are more common in
the 20% most deprived patients relative to the 20% more well off patients. Smoking
and increased alcohol consumption, both risk factors for these cancers, are also more
common amongst more deprived populations.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England is to pilot low
dose CT scanning for lung cancer, focussing on those clinical commissioning groups
with the highest lung cancer mortality and incidence. These pilots, together with
the implementation of rapid diagnosis pathways for lung cancer will help to close
the gap in inequalities.</p>
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