South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has given his backing to an Asthma + Lung UK Scotland survey to support people living across south Scotland share their views on how living with a lung condition impacts their lives.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, the nation’s leading lung health charity, is seeking the views of the 1 in 5 people living with a lung condition to take part in the new ‘Life with a Lung Condition’ survey. The charity is looking to find out how living with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis, impacts the lives of people as they seek diagnosis, care and treatment for their conditions.

Colin Smyth, who is Asthma + Lung UK Scotland’s Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) parliamentary champion, has given their backing to the survey after hearing that 43% of all respiratory deaths happen in winter, adding to the extreme pressures faced by the NHS and emergency services due to rises in flu and covid.

The local MSP is asking constituents to take part in the survey to better inform the fight for better diagnosis, care and management of respiratory conditions in Scotland.

To take part in the survey, please visit www.asthmaandlung.org.uk or scan the QR code.

Speaking after meeting with Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, Colin Smyth said: “As 1 in 5 people are diagnosed with a lung condition at some point in their lives, it is crucial that parliamentarians support initiatives such as the Asthma + Lung UK survey, so that the charity can then better inform us of the scale of lung conditions in my south Scotland constituency.

“The NHS and emergency services are under extreme pressures and the more responses to the survey will help paint a more accurate picture of respiratory health in Scotland and support Asthma + Lung UK Scotland to campaign for better services.”

Gareth Brown, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, added: “Thanks to Colin Smyth MSP for meeting with me recently to hear about the scale of lung health in the south of Scotland. It is crucial that we fight for everyone’s right to breathe and breathe clean, healthy air as well, so it is great to have the support of MSPs across Scotland in that fight.

“Our short survey will benefit everyone living with a lung condition and it only takes 5 minutes to complete. We are aiming to secure responses into the thousands for Scotland alone and we are near that objective. Survey answers will better help us understand the experiences of people and campaign for better lung health services right across Scotland.”