Plans to transform the care, quality of life and health outcomes for people in the North West with lung and respiratory disease were announced today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
Lung and respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) present a major problem for patients and the NHS in the North West where over one hundred and fifty thousand patients are believed to be living with the condition.
COPD is also thought to affect more than three million people in England and more than five million people currently receive treatment for Asthma. Currently, the UK has the second highest mortality rate from COPD and asthma in Europe.
The North West had over nineteen thousand emergency admissions due to COPD over the last year, with a total cost to the NHS of £44,027,127. Over 3,570 patients in the area also died from asthma and respiratory diseases in 2009.
With the highest number of people presenting with respiratory diseases across the country, a lack of recognition of symptoms by patients within the area often leads to late diagnosis, worsening health and wellbeing, increased emergency admissions and preventable deaths.
To help combat this, NHS North West has appointed Dr John Williams, Dr Stephen Gaduzo, June Roberts and Preeti Sud to specialise in respiratory disease and drive up the quality of care, reduce emergency admissions and save more lives.
The Outcomes Strategy for COPD and Asthma, published by the Department of Health today, will drive improvements in outcomes for patients through the new REACT approach. This coordinates the efforts of the NHS, patients, social care and voluntary organisations can help people avoid lung disease and to lead longer and healthier lives:
* Respiratory health and good lung health
* Early accurate diagnosis
* Active partnership between healthcare professionals and people with COPD/asthma,
* Chronic disease management (and good control of symptoms)
* Targeted evidence-based treatment for the individual
Underpinning the REACT approach, the Outcomes Strategy identifies six objectives that will drive health improvements for patients. These are:
* better prevention of COPD,
* reducing premature death,
* improving quality of life,
* improving safe and effective care,
* reducing the impact of asthma, and
* reducing inequalities in access to and quality of services.
Everyone in the North West affected by lung and respiratory diseases can also expect to have a care planning discussion with their healthcare professional. This will allow individuals to personalise their care and plan their lung health on an ongoing basis so that they can identify any problems and seek help before their symptoms worsen.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“We want to help the North West to improve awareness of good lung health, reduce the number of people with respiratory disease and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed. This will reduce the number of deaths in the region by focusing on better prevention, earlier diagnosis and excellent care and management of COPD and asthma.
“We want to liberate the NHS and give staff the freedom to work across boundaries with patients and other professionals to provide a more responsive and personalised NHS.
“This is just the start in helping to fundamentally change the burden of respiratory disease and transform the health outcomes and quality of life for millions of people.”
Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said:
“We are delighted to welcome the COPD and Asthma Outcomes Strategy. It will offer improved treatment and care to millions of people suffering with these life threatening and debilitating conditions. However, in order to have a real impact we need to see this strategy put into action across the country.
“The BLF will continue to work with the Department of Health to ensure this happens and that anyone affected by COPD and Asthma receives excellent standards of care and treatment wherever they live.”
Neil Churchill, Chief Executive of Asthma UK said:
“We warmly welcome the publication of this vital strategy. Every seven minutes someone with asthma is admitted into hospital, and asthma costs the NHS more than £1billion per year. Today’s announcement is an important step towards improvement in asthma care and we look forward to working with the NHS to implement its key objectives.
“The NHS has set some challenging outcomes to reduce asthma deaths and emergency hospital admissions and this renewed clinical leadership is timely and important. We hope to see the quality standard on asthma becoming a real benchmark of high quality care, based on all the evidence, which should help to reduce the current unwarranted variation in asthma outcomes across the country.”