Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Our Vision:

To provide an integrated patient focused service, delivering efficient, high quality, evidence-based care to patients with COPD in Dudley.

Introduction

COPD is a major cause of hospital admissions in the UK, accounting for over one million hospital admissions each year. Effective management of patients with COPD will result in positive patient outcomes that will be echoed throughout the local health economy.

Exacerbations of COPD are a major cause of hospitalizations, causing significant burden for patients and the health service. Exacerbations are distressing and disruptive for patients and account for a significant proportion of the total healthcare costs of COPD. Through proactive management exacerbations can be prevented, treated more effectively should they be encountered, reduce expensive treatment costs and impact positively on patients’ health status.

These guidelines have been published as an electronic resource, to allow professionals to identify, diagnose and manage COPD. To achieve the following:

• The care of patients with COPD in Dudley will be enhanced, resulting in all patients receiving efficient and effective care.
• Improved communication and collaborative working (where appropriate) leading to an increase in ‘community managed’ patients.
• Reduction of unnecessary hospital admissions for COPD. Evidence shows that if admissions are avoided then the lung function can be maintained
• Reduced length of stay when patients with COPD are admitted to hospital as a result of a COPD exacerbation
• Early intervention
• Appropriate care that will be provided in the appropriate place
• Availability of services closer to the patient
• Multi-disciplinary approach to service development
• Evidence-based interventions according to local guidelines
• Avoidance of duplication with Secondary Care
• Increased patient involvement
• Education and training for clinicians – more accurate diagnosis and a more structured approach to care thus improving quality of life for those experiencing COPD
• Healthcare that will be more financially effective for the NHS

Patients with COPD will benefit from:

• Improved quality of life
• Increased social inclusion
• Increased patient involvement
• Improved self-esteem and family relations
• Healthcare professionals within primary care to be able to deliver a sustainable service
• Equitable service across Dudley
• More robust treatments