Improving the acute care of COPD patients across Gloucestershire

"The aim of the scheme was to improve compliance with the BTS [British Thoracic Society] guidelines and CQUIN [Commissioning for Quality and Innovation] scheme for patients admitted with an exacerbation of COPD."

Improving the acute care of COPD patients across Gloucestershire: a quality improvement project
C Miller, C Cushley, K Redler, C Mitchell, EA Day, H Mansfield, A Nye
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u208427.w3338

Read more here.

Triggers for palliative care: Improving access

"This report explores the evidence around access to palliative care for people with terminal illnesses other than cancer."

Triggers for palliative care:  Improving access to care for people with diseases other than cancer
Marie Curie
June 2015

Read more here.

Understanding quality improvement at scale in general practice

"Improvement guidance derived largely from hospital-based studies is, for the most part, applicable to improvement efforts in primary care settings, although large-scale change in general practice presents some particular challenges. These need to be better understood and addressed if improvement initiatives are to be effective."

Understanding quality improvement at scale in general practice: a qualitative evaluation of a COPD improvement programme
M Marshall et al.
British Journal of General Practice, 2014; 64(629): e745–e751. doi:  10.3399/bjgp14X682801

Read more here.

Changes in costs and effects after the implementation of disease management programs

"After one year we have found indications of improvements in level of integrated care for cardiovascular risk patients and lifestyle indicators for all diseases, but in none of the diseases we have found indications of cost savings due to disease management programs. However, it is likely that it takes more time before the improvements in care lead to reductions in complications and hospitalizations."

Changes in costs and effects after the implementation of disease management programs in the Netherlands: variability and determinants
A Tsiachristas, J Murray Cramm, AP Nieboer, MPMH Rutten-van Mölken
Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2014, 12:17

Read more here.

Report on inquiry into respiratory deaths

"Strategic and effective investment has the power to bring not only significant savings to the NHS, but improvements in patients’ quality of life and a significant reduction in deaths from respiratory disease."

Report on inquiry into respiratory deaths
APPG on Respiratory Health
June 2014

Read more here.

Structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care

"On the basis of the evidence collected alongside a cluster RCT, a structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for COPD delivered in primary care was, on average, more costly and more effective than the usual general practice care."

The cost-effectiveness of a structured education pulmonary rehabilitation programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care: the PRINCE cluster randomised trial
P Gillespie, et al.
BMJ Open, 2013, 3:e003479

Read more here.

Guide to performing quality assured diagnostic spirometry

"This step by step guide shows how high quality diagnostic spirometry can be delivered in primary care and elsewhere. It provides a clear outline covering operator competency, calibration and cleaning, preparation of the patient, operation of the equipment, interpretation of results and quality assurance."

A guide to performing quality assured diagnostic spirometry
Primary Care Commissioning
April 2013

Read more here.

Managing exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

"This toolkit will provide additional help for those specifically wanting to improve their inpatient services for people with an acute exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

This toolkit will focus on:

• Non-invasive ventilation (NIV)
• Access to specialist and clinical decision making
• Care bundles
• Pulmonary rehabilitation."

Managing exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a secondary care toolkit
NHS Improvement - Lung
March 2013

Read more here.

First steps to improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care

"NHS Improvement has over a decade of experience in clinical patient pathway redesign in cancer, diagnostics, heart, lung and stroke and demonstrates some of the most leading edge improvement work in England which supports improved patient experience and outcomes."

First steps to improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care
NHS Improvement - Lung
October 2012

Read more here.

COPD commissioning toolkit: a resource for commissioners

"The COPD Commissioning Toolkit aims to make it easier to commission better services for people with COPD by bringing together the clinical, financial and commercial aspects of commissioning in one place."

COPD commissioning toolkit: a resource for commissioners
NHS Medical Directorate
August 2012

Read more here.

An outcomes strategy for COPD and asthma

"The Outcomes Strategy for COPD and Asthma showed the Government’s commitment to improving services for people with respiratory disease, as well as providing high-quality care that is safe, effective and responsive to the needs of individuals in streamlined services delivered closer to home.
This NHS Companion Document is a key part of the suite of tools and resources planned to help support different parts of the system implement the Outcomes Strategy."

An outcomes strategy for COPD and asthma: NHS companion document
Department of Health
May 2012

Read the outcomes strategy here and the companion document here.