Media Release
New South Wales is lagging when it comes to specialist nurses, respiratory disease care and tighter tobacco legislation – endangering the health of thousands of people each year and overburdening hospitals.
Professor Lucy Morgan, Leading Respiratory Physician and Chair of Lung Foundation Australia said NSW residents with lung disease or lung cancer were bearing the brunt, with the state having the second worst patient to nurse ratio for lung cancer in Australia.
“NSW Health has been an incredible force in protecting the community through the Covid-19 pandemic, and as normalcy is restored, we need those protections to be increased for lung disease,” Prof Morgan said.
“We’re urging the New South Wales Government to reduce inequalities in healthcare by boosting funding and support for the one in three people living with lung disease or lung cancer.
“We need the NSW Government to step up and prioritise improved lung health for all. This includes better support for people with lung cancer in regional and rural areas, and enhanced management of lung disease in the community and out of hospital.
“People cannot wait any longer. We’re urging the government to invest in 12 specialist lung cancer (SLC) nurses to support NSW residents in regional and rural areas. It’s well under what’s best practice, but it would be a small step in the right direction.
“We know SLC nurses add huge value to the coordination of care, support, guidance and advice to patients. Evidence shows there are 75 percent fewer avoidable emergency department presentations when a specialist lung cancer nurse is involved in care.”
Support advocate and person living with lung cancer Danielle said she was one of the lucky few to have access to an SLC nurse and knows first-hand the difference they make.
“I can’t overstate how important it was having access (to an SLC). It makes me incredibly sad for anyone who is going through this process without them, it would be a much more lonely and lost experience,” Danielle said.
“Anyone with lungs can get lung disease, not just smokers. Everyone deserves the same level of care.”
In NSW, lung disease and lung cancer impact one in three residents and lung cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer causing more deaths than any other cancer.
Prof Morgan said it’s projected over 4,800 people in NSW will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year alone. Despite this, there is a serious lack of specialist care nurses.
“With the entire state having just ten specialist nurses, thousands of patients will miss out on the tailored information and support, and improved health outcomes they provide, “she said.
Prof. Morgan said LFA was also calling for more investment and action to support people living with long COVID; improve health outcomes by reducing smoking rates; and push for improved air quality by strengthening standards for clean air and reducing the permitted amount of air pollution.
“We must adopt the World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines, as the current standards fail to protect NSW residents from the harmful impacts of air pollution,”Prof Morgan said
“We can also improve health outcomes by reducing smoking rates. Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in NSW.
And NSW will soon be the last Australian state to implement a positive licensing scheme, which provides a register of tobacco and e-cigarette retailers and wholesalers.
“Given the significant increase in vaping, particularly in youth, it is important to strengthen tobacco legislation and protect the health of children and non-smokers,” Prof. Morgan added.
For more information, please visit LFA’s NSW election priorties document.
For media enquiries:
Lung Foundation Australia Media and Communications Specialist Anna Jeffries – 0408191192 or annaj@lungfoundation.com.au