LAUSR

Respiratory disease effects one in five people and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the UK.1 In response to increasing prevalence and rising associated costs2—the Taskforce for Lung Health was established to deliver a 5-year plan or roadmap to improve respiratory health in England,3 as a priority as part of the National Health Service (NHS) England long-term plan.4 The Taskforce report, published in late 2018, provides a framework focusing on the importance of prevention, early and accurate diagnosis, high-quality treatments and support, and the recruitment of a highly knowledgeable and skilled workforce.3 The latter objective is perhaps most significant given staff shortages remain apparent across all levels of respiratory healthcare.5 In this context, it is alarming that the UK professional body for respiratory physiology practitioners—the Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) recently published findings from a nationwide survey confirming that a substantial shortfall exists in the quantity of trained respiratory physiologists across the NHS.6 Indeed, respiratory physiology has been registered on the UK shortage occupations list for over a decade7—suggesting either a lack of awareness or interest when compared with other areas of healthcare science. This is clearly concerning …