The Taskforce for Lung Health is pleased to announce that Carol Stonham MBE has been elected as its new Vice-Chair.

As Vice Chair of the Taskforce, Carol will use her clinical background and extensive experience to help the Taskforce achieve its mission to prevent more people from developing lung disease, and to transform the care of people living with lung conditions.  

A specialist respiratory nurse in primary care by background, Carol has worked in a variety of specialist respiratory settings both in general practice and at ICB level and has held regional and national leadership roles. She has developed a detailed understanding of patient pathways and feels strongly about the importance of patient voice and experience, which is a key focus for the Taskforce. Based in Gloucestershire, she is clinical lead for children and young people with asthma at her ICB.  

Carol was also policy lead at the Primary Care Respiratory Society from 2018 to 2024 and has been co-chair of the Taskforce’s Diagnosis working group since its inception.  

Hear from Carol as she starts her term as Vice-Chair.

“I’m delighted to have been elected to serve as Vice-Chair for the Taskforce for Lung Health – the largest ever group of organisations and individuals who have come together, as a team, to improve lung health. I am passionate about improving the care of people with respiratory disease and getting it right from the start of the pathway in helping to prevent the development of respiratory disease, through diagnosis, routine and emergency care, and end of life care. We have the potential to develop patient-centred holistic care delivered close to home when people need it, we just need to get the pathways consistently right.

My election to this role comes at a pivotal moment as the government consults on preparations for a new NHS 10 Year Plan. This plan will only be successful if it includes – at its heart – the urgent need to drive improvements in respiratory care. Without this focus, it will be impossible to address rising numbers of A&E visits and hospital admissions, or the health inequalities which are so strongly linked with respiratory disease.”