A NATIONAL charity has slammed Worcestershire health chiefs' proposal to withdraw funding for the region's pulmonary rehabilitation nurse.

The British Lung Foundation, a charity that funds research into the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of lung diseases, said it would be "madness" to withdraw funding for the service.

The proposal, which would save South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust £28,000 a year, is one of many suggested cutbacks aimed at saving a total of £5m a year.

It has already provoked anger among the service's users in Worcestershire, some of whom say it has given them a new lease of life.

John Latham, the British Lung Foundation's Midlands regional manager, said respiratory disease was the biggest problem affecting the nation's health.

He said 27 million working days lost each year through respiratory problems, and only four countries from the former Soviet Union had higher death rates from lung disease than the UK.

"To withdraw funding now is madness," said Mr Latham. "Pulmonary rehabilitation helps people keep well and gives confidence and a better quality of life.

"It reduces expensive drug bills and helps keep patients out of GP surgeries and hospital beds.

"Respiratory patients in the NHS often consider themselves to be treated as second class citizens.

"Is Worcester NHS trying to prove them right?"

He said Worcestershire had some of the best people in the Midlands running the pulmonary rehabilitation treatment.

PCT chief executive Mike Ridley stressed it was only the service provided by the specialist nurse that was proposed to be discontinued.

"Relevant support and services provided by Worcestershire Royal Hospital, GPs and physiotherapists will not be affected," he said.

"The decision has not been made yet, and the next stage is a discussion at a meeting of the Professional Executive Committee, made up of doctors, nurses and therapists, who will put their proposal for consideration to the trust board."