My first year as CEO of the UK’s lung charity
Sarah Woolnough reflects on her first year in post and the challenges facing respiratory services.
I became CEO of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation last December, at a time when the millions of people living with lung conditions in the UK needed the charity more than ever. We had entered a new national lockdown, and our beneficiaries were understandably anxious about what winter and rising COVID-19 cases would mean for them.
Our merger made us stronger
As the charity had merged just earlier that year, we’ve been able to offer stronger support for our beneficiaries. Shared learnings from staff and sufficient savings on running costs have helped us to support more than 1.8 million people with clear, up-to-date health advice through our website in the past year, and our helpline teams have provided a listening ear to more than 30,000 callers.
There’s no doubt that the merger has made us a stronger, more unified voice for the 1 in 5 people in the UK living with lung disease.
A year to be proud of
This year, we’ve
shined a light on the devastating impact of air pollution on lung health at COP26, and worked with Coronation Street script writers to bring the issue to life on the small screen.
helped influence NICE to recommend dupilumab, a wonder drug that can transform the lives of people living with the severest form of asthma.
funded and been involved in world-leading research on topics as varied as how to improve care for Long COVID, whether farmyard dust can help asthma and the impact of e-cigarettes on conditions like COPD.
None of this would’ve been possible without our amazing supporters and dedicated staff and volunteers, who are so passionate about tackling the causes of lung disease and investment in better research, care and treatment for people who live with it.
Fighting for the care you deserve
Despite these successes, there is still a long, long way to go before people with lung conditions get the treatment and care they deserve. If my first year as CEO at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation has taught me anything, it’s that people with lung conditions really do get a raw deal.
It saddens me that research and investment is so low compared to other conditions, and that there’s no dedicated national plan to tackle the huge backlog in respiratory services caused by the pandemic. People with lung disease deserve better, and I know that as a charity we have a vital role to play in making this a reality.
The government needs to build back fairer and use the COVID-19 pandemic as a springboard to invest in much more research and treatment into lung conditions. We will do everything we can to support people with lung disease and will continue to advocate tirelessly on their behalf, but the government needs to take the reins and ensure respiratory services get the funding they so desperately deserve.
As I look to my next year in post, I want to see the government stop papering over the cracks and tackle the issues facing respiratory services head on, and know we’ll do everything in our power to make sure that happens.
Where there’s Christmas, there’s hope
Last winter, the cost of running our Helpline was £182,754. This is expected to increase in 2021 as more people turn to us for support. Please donate today and help make sure we can be there for everyone who needs us.
