Only a 'lucky' few people with a debilitating lung condition receive specialist care

A 2021 ILFA survey of over 100 lung fibrosis and post-transplant patients found nearly half of patients received no specialty care referral.

Only a "lucky" few people suffering from a debilitating lung condition receive specialist care, an Oireachtas committee will be told on Wednesday.

The Oireachtas Health Committee will hear from the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association. It is estimated that there are 5,000 people in Ireland living with lung fibrosis, with over 1,000 new cases every year. However, data on the incidence in Ireland is lacking as there is no national registry. The prognosis for lung fibrosis patients is worse than most cancers.