About us

The British Thoracic Society (BTS) is a professional body of 4,500 respiratory specialists from around the UK. 

BTS works to raise awareness of the impact of lung disease, champion the respiratory workforce, deliver education and continued professional development to the  respiratory team, and develop clinical guidance to improve standards of care. 

Our mission

• To influence the provision of the optimum respiratory workforce and the development of services that promote sustainable solutions and reduce health inequalities
• To educate professionals to advance knowledge and share learning in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung disease
• To support all members of the respiratory team to improve standards of care

BTS is a well-governed, open and democratic Society.  We are responsive to our members' feedback and aim to reflect the diversity of our membership in our governing and advisory Committees and other groups and activities.  We involve the public and patients and carers in planning, delivering and reviewing our activities. 

We are a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Our activities cover all of the UK. We seek to work collaboratively with others and maintain a global outlook focused on improving respiratory care and removing inequalities in access to care and respiratory health outcomes.

The BTS strategy for 2023-2025 was launched at the 2022 Annual General Meeting, and can be found here.