National funding extension supports hundreds more Merton residents with respiratory conditions

A further 500 residents across Merton with respiratory conditions have been supported over the winter period through a national funding programme, which has been extended from today, Tuesday, March 17.

In September 2025, the Merton Provider Alliance secured £300,000 from the NHS England Respiratory Pathway Transformation Fund. The funding is designed to support earlier detection of respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alongside strengthening proactive care planning and support for patients during the winter months.

The Merton Provider Alliance brings together partners from health, social care, and the voluntary sector, working collaboratively to develop neighbourhood health models and deliver integrated neighbourhood teams across the London Borough of Merton. The alliance is co-hosted by the local authority and Merton Health CIC, the GP Federation.

Over the winter period, the funding has enabled improved access to high-quality respiratory diagnostics delivered through Merton Health CIC, alongside enhanced specialist respiratory input provided by Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) NHS Trust and the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier (GESH) Hospital Group.

Dr Sayanthan Ganesaratnam, Chair of the Merton Provider Alliance, said:
“Respiratory disease remains one of the most significant and preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the UK. The UK continues to have one of the highest respiratory death rates in Europe, second only to Turkey. In 2023 alone, there were 1,279 deaths from asthma across England and Wales, alongside an estimated £21 billion annual cost to the UK economy and 12.7 million working days lost each year.

This funding has enabled us to take a much more proactive and preventative approach—expanding access to diagnostics, identifying patients earlier, and delivering targeted reviews for those at highest risk. As a result, we are supporting people to better manage their conditions, reduce avoidable hospital admissions, and improve both quality of life and long-term outcomes.”

The Merton Provider Alliance secured this additional funding with the support of the Health Innovation Network South London (HIN SL). As one of 15 Health Innovation Networks across England, HIN SL plays a key role in connecting NHS organisations, academic institutions, local authorities, the voluntary sector, and industry partners to accelerate the adoption and spread of innovation at scale.