National Clinical Strategy for COPD

The National Clinical Strategy for COPD is currently being developed by the Department of Health. This strategy was previously known as a National Service Framework (NSF) but following the publishing of the Lord Darzi report ‘High quality care for all: NHS Next Stage Review’, based on ways to reshape and improve the NHS, National Service Frameworks have now been re-classed as National Strategies. This has not affected the development of the COPD strategy.

National Strategies are ten-year plans for the NHS which aim to raise the quality of care across England for all people living with specified conditions; this will be the first ever strategy for a respiratory disease in England. The British Lung Foundation has been involved in the development of this from the beginning.

The Strategy will be out for consultation in 2009 and will be published in Spring 2010.

The Clinical Strategy for COPD in England will address the lack of awareness of COPD and focus on the undiagnosed or inaccurately classified as well as addressing clear care pathways for those diagnosed.

Recommendations include:

1. Developing a strategy to identify undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed cases of COPD

2. Improving the accuracy of diagnosis

3. Improving support and information for patients and carers

4. Ensuring that people living with COPD are properly cared for and encouraged to manage their condition

5. Establishing ‘managed clinical networks’ to ensure that everyone involved in caring of someone with COPD from the GP to social services provide coordinated care.

6. Ensuring that if someone is admitted to hospital, the time is used effectively to avoid recurrent hospitalisation

7. Using innovative technology to deliver and monitor care