Breathing easy: world COPD day

Last year the CSP launched the Falls Prevention Economic Model. The model was well received by members and external decision-makers alike so thoughts turned to other areas of health where economic modelling could prove the benefit of physiotherapeutic intervention.

 

The CSP decided to focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to produce another economic model to demonstrate the benefit of investing in physiotherapy services within pulmonary rehabilitation. 

 

COPD is a devastating, life limiting condition accounting for one in eight acute medical admissions to hospital in adults.

 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence found that the direct cost of providing care for these patients with COPD in the NHS is almost £500 million a year, with more than half of this cost relating to the provision of care in hospital.

 

Pulmonary rehabilitation programmes have been shown to be both clinically and cost effective in improving the health of these patients. Evidence shows that access to pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce length of hospital stay and the number of hospital readmissions.

 

However, a recent British Thoracic Society audit shows that access to these services is patchy, with almost half (44 per cent) of patients having no referral made to pulmonary rehabilitation services on point of discharge.

 

The model will demonstrate that by investing in pulmonary rehabilitation services, fewer people will need to be admitted to the acute care setting with acute exacerbations of the disease.

 

The data generated by the model will be available for use with key service decision makers to make the case for increasing/developing services, improving access to services and potentially creating services where currently none exist.

 

The model is due to be launched in January, with supporting materials for members and non-members including an update to the Physiotherapy Works briefing.

 

The model will also be made available to key decision-makers in healthcare in all four UK countries and will be promoted at a wide range of events across the UK. 

 

As this project progresses we will be looking for members with an interest in COPD to become part of our project interest group. If you would like to become a part of this group, email enquiries@csp.org.uk.