Written question WQ98089

The Welsh Government set out its approach in the Quality Statement for Respiratory Conditions, which indicated one in 12 adults reported a long-term respiratory condition in Wales.

Officials monitor weekly national and health board data on 999 ambulance conveyances for people presenting with breathing problems, enabling early identification of trends, pressures and potential system risks across emergency departments.

The population prevalence of chronic respiratory disease and the impact of respiratory viruses is known to create demand pressures on urgent and emergency care, particularly in winter. The Welsh Government’s approach to winter planning monitors causes of emergency admission, such as breathlessness, and the winter planning framework for NHS services has a focus on seasonal influenza and on chronic respiratory condition management.

Health boards are expected to plan NHS services according to the expectations set out in the quality statement. Health boards are also working through regional partnership boards to implement winter planning with partners.

There is a significant focus on improving vaccination rates as part of this work. Health boards are delivering flu, RSV and Covid-19 vaccinations.

Health boards also introduced targeted vaccination activities in December in those areas where flu vaccination uptake was lower as expected.

The NHS in Wales is required to adopt all newly recommended medicines and interventions within 60 days of the final appraisal decision of the recommending organisation, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. In terms of innovation, the Welsh Government is engaging with the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences on a UK-wide call for evidence.