In November 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) launched England’s first ever Men’s Health Strategy. The strategy recognised that “Men, particularly former industrial workers, smokers and those in deprived communities, carry the greatest burden of respiratory disease.”
As part of the strategy, a commitment was made to expand the existing Respiratory Pathway Transformation Fund (PTF), with £1 million invested through Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley to develop targeted case-finding initiatives in former coalfield areas. Three sites that had previously received pathway transformation funding were offered expansion funding, while three additional sites were established to deliver the programme.
Targeting respiratory health inequalities
To maximise impact and address respiratory health inequalities, the programme has built on existing PTF delivery while targeting communities with the greatest need. All activity is aligned with two national clinical priorities:
- Early and accurate diagnosis
- Risk stratification and optimisation
Sites began delivery in April and May 2026. Early results demonstrate encouraging levels of activity across both priorities.
Early and accurate diagnosis
Between April and June, sites generated 582 referrals for respiratory diagnostics, alongside 288 diagnostic spirometry tests. This activity has so far resulted in 80 confirmed COPD diagnoses and 68 confirmed asthma diagnoses.
Risk stratification and optimisation
The programme is also identifying people at increased risk and providing targeted support through OPTIMISE reviews, personalised care planning and smoking cessation interventions.
Across the first three months, 1,248 rising-risk patients were identified using search tools, with 597 people identified for OPTIMISE review. To date, 185 OPTIMISE reviews have been completed and 194 personalised care plans have been put in place.
Smoking cessation support is another important component, with 329 people receiving smoking cessation education and 993 referrals made to smoking cessation services.
Community partnerships making a difference
A key strength of the programme is the emphasis on community engagement. Sites are working with trusted local organisations and using community-based delivery models to reach people who may be less likely to access traditional healthcare services.
- North East and North Cumbria: Partnering with the Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland Football Club, to deliver engagement events and clinics at Sunderland AFC facilities.
- Sheffield: Running a Facebook campaign and working with Handsworth FC to engage local communities through meetings held at the local mining club.
- North Midlands: Partnering with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) to embed engagement activity within existing healthcare sessions.
- Mid Yorkshire: Delivering nurse-led clinics at a CRT community hub, providing diagnostic activity and OPTIMISE reviews alongside access to wider community support services. A second clinic is planned within a CISWO (The Coal Mining Charity) community hub.
- Mersey and West Lancashire: Using neighbourhood meetings to promote the COPD Diagnostic Hub, identify potential patients and strengthen local partnerships. Discussions are also underway with St Helens Rugby League Club to expand outreach to the legacy mining community.
- Sherwood: Delivering a lung health and well-being event with system partners at Dukeries Leisure Centre. The event brings together mining charities, the local authority, community organisations and NHS services to raise awareness, improve access to respiratory diagnostics, identify unmet need and strengthen local partnerships.
Sharing learning across project sites
A Community of Practice has also been established across the six sites to facilitate shared learning and collaboration.
The first Community of Practice, held in May, focused on engaging mining communities. Participants heard from the National Union of Mineworkers, CISWO the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the National Coal Mining Museum, gaining valuable insights into partnership working and effective approaches to community engagement.
As the programme develops, these partnerships and shared learning opportunities will be vital in ensuring that respiratory services reach former mining communities, identify disease earlier and provide people with the support they need to manage their respiratory health.
Early results are encouraging, but the real opportunity lies in building trusted relationships within communities and using those relationships to reduce longstanding respiratory health inequalities.
Delivered as part of the Respiratory Transformation Partnership (RTP).