A PETITION was handed to Teesside MP Ashok Kumar calling for more health services for people with lung problems.

Members of the Teesside Breathe Easy Group made their point at a march through Victoria Square, Middlesbrough, on Saturday to coincide with the British Lung Foundation's awareness week. The petition was signed by those who believe that everybody in the UK should have the right to lung health care services, including ambulatory oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Lightweight portable oxygen radically improves patients' daily lives. Without it, patients are left housebound and cut off from the rest of the world.

About 70,000 people are prescribed long-term oxygen to help them breathe, but ambulatory oxygen, which is widely available in the US and many European countries, is not freely available on the NHS.

Mr Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "I have been privileged to meet members of the Teesside Breathe Easy Group at the self-help sessions they hold in Middlesbrough and I have been struck by the devotion of their members to helping people suffering from breathing and lung disorders in our area.

"With an industrial background, Teesside has a long history of people suffering from such disorders and I believe more priority should be given by local NHS trusts to improving the level of service in this area of care.

"I will make sure the petition is drawn to the attention of health ministers."