Department of Health
launches consultation on a strategy for Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease
Patients, staff
and stakeholders are being invited to share their views on a
strategy to tackle the growing problem of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in England published by the Department of
Health today.
COPD is thought to affect over three million people in England,
but less than a million of these have been diagnosed. One of the
main aims of the strategy will be to support the local NHS in
identifying those who are not aware they have the condition and
helping them to receive an early and accurate diagnosis and
treatment to limit further damage. The strategy also looks at care
for people with asthma as it is often confused with COPD and there
are similarities in treatment for the two conditions.
The strategy which is being consulted on widely has been
developed with key patient groups including the British Lung
Foundation and Asthma UK, as well as people working in health and
social care, people with COPD and asthma and their carers.
The Department has already identified personalised care plans as
important for helping all people with long-term conditions
including those with COPD and asthma to understand and manage
their condition. The strategy sets out a number of clear
recommendations to improve outcomes for patients and help to
reduce the cost of COPD to the NHS including:
· Identifying the disease earlier
· Improving diagnosis of COPD and asthma
· Helping people to manage their condition better through
structured education and exercise
· Reducing admissions and re-admissions to hospital
· Improving access to end of life care
· Working to prevent COPD
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:
"COPD is notoriously hard to spot in its early stages,
and yet the sooner it is diagnosed the more we can do for people
with the condition.
"This strategy will focus minds across the NHS on better
diagnosis and earlier treatment. There are more than three million
people with COPD in this country, yet less than a million have
been diagnosed, so we need to raise awareness and improve
knowledge of the symptoms as a matter of urgency."
Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung
Foundation said:
"We warmly welcome the launch of the consultation for
the strategy for COPD. The British Lung Foundation has campaigned
for this for a number of years as we believe that, when
implemented the strategy will make a real difference to the lives
of over 3 million people in England, who are affected by COPD. Our
aim is to work alongside the strategy to ensure that more people
are diagnosed with the condition at an earlier stage and given the
treatment and care they so desperately need."
Neil Churchill, Chief Executive of Asthma UK said:
“We welcome publication of the strategy and are delighted that
asthma is included. We believe there are real opportunities to
improve the way both COPD and asthma are managed in England, to
the benefit of patients, their carers and to the taxpayer. Asthma
is a major cause of hospital admissions. We estimate that the NHS
could save around £200 million a year and provide better care
through greater education, self-care and targeted interventions.”
- Ends -
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries only please contact the Department of Health
press office on 020 7210 5221The consultation on will run until 5
April 2010. The document can be found at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/LiveconsultationsThe Department of
Health recently appointed Professor Sue Hill and Dr Robert Winter
as joint National Clinical Directors for Respiratory Disease. They
have led the development of the COPD strategy to date. The joint
National Clinical Directors will use the consultation responses to
help shape the final document which, when published later this
year, will help to transform services for people with COPD and
asthma.COPD currently costs the NHS around £800m every year and is
responsible for 24 million lost working days. It is a condition
that progressively damages the lungs making it increasingly
difficult to breathe. Whilst this cannot be reversed, early
diagnosis and effective treatment can slow its progress. Asthma is
more common than COPD but symptoms are generally milder, and with
the right treatment the vast majority of people with asthma can
lead normal lives.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk