Any Updates ?

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Any Updates on this publication and when will this clinical strategy come into effect ?

National strategy to transform care for millions with respiratory disease

Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation said:

“We are delighted to welcome the COPD and Asthma Outcomes Strategy.

Published date:

18 July 2011

UK has second highest death rate in Europe from respiratory diseases

Plans to transform the care, quality of life and health outcomes for millions of people with respiratory disease were announced today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.

Respiratory diseases represent a major problem in England for patients and the NHS. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is thought to affect more than three million people in England and more than five million people currently receive treatment for Asthma.

The UK has the second highest mortality rate from COPD and asthma in Europe (1). However, if the UK was performing at the EU average for respiratory disease then we would save over 2,000 extra lives a year. Further if all parts of the country could reduce death rates to those areas with the lowest death rates, then up to 8,000 lives a year would be saved from COPD alone.

Due to a lack of recognition of symptoms this leads to late diagnosis and poor outcomes – one in eight adults aged over 35 has COPD that has not been diagnosed. More people are admitted to hospital in an emergency for respiratory diseases than anything else (12 per cent of all emergency admissions) and COPD is the fifth biggest killer in the UK.

It also represents a huge cost for the NHS and for patients – together COPD and asthma cost the NHS more than £2 billion a year and COPD alone is responsible for 24 million lost working days.

The Outcomes Strategy for COPD and Asthma 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); and

Targeted evidence-based treatment for the individual.

Everyone affected by COPD and asthma 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.

Underpinning the REACT approach, the Outcomes Strategy identifies six objectives that will drive work to transform respiratory care within the health and social care system. 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.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“Once implemented this Outcomes Strategy will help 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 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 fundamentally to reduce the burden of respiratory disease and transform for the better the health outcomes and quality of life for millions of people.”

The strategy has been consulted on widely and has been developed with key patient groups including the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK, healthcare professionals from both primary and secondary care as well as patients and carers.

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.

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Hi

Here's a link to the outcomes strategy

dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsan...

So it's now down to local managers and providers of health care services to people with copd and asthma to use the strategy as a guideline to deliver and improve services.

It isn't a magic wand and it doesn't mean everything will change straightaway (it's been around for over a year).

Thanks

Mark

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An Update of a 2004 guide for strategy not a magic wand then because nothing has changed in service delivery if the same things are being said now that were being spouted then it is just a wish list nothing more than that it would have funds and a time table for objectives to be implemented by if it was anything more than fantasy.