⚡ Quick Summary

The LungHealth software, designed to facilitate computer-guided consultations, is being implemented in 150 GP practices throughout Greater Manchester. This initiative aims to enhance care for adults suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

💡 Key Features and Benefits

• 🔍 Clinically Validated Solution: The LungHealth software is based on established national and international guidelines, ensuring high-quality consultations for asthma and COPD patients.
• 📅 Flexible Consultation Options: Patients can receive annual reviews either remotely or in-person, making healthcare more accessible.
• 📈 Community Support Integration: The software directs patients to available community resources, including pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation programs.
• 👩‍⚕️ Healthcare Professional Training: It provides clinical prompts to enhance the skills of healthcare providers, preparing them for future challenges.

👩‍⚕️ Project Implementation and Goals

• The rollout of the LungHealth software will occur over two years as part of the MISSION project, a collaboration between Health Innovation Manchester and Chiesi UK and Ireland.
• Dr. Tracey Vell, medical director at Health Innovation Manchester, expressed optimism that this partnership will lead to significantly improved outcomes for asthma and COPD patients in the region.
• The project aims to assess whether the technology can enhance the quality, effectiveness, and consistency of patient reviews, ultimately reducing the burden of asthma and COPD exacerbations on both patients and the NHS.

📊 Current Landscape of Respiratory Health in the UK

• Over five million individuals in the UK are diagnosed with asthma, while approximately 1.4 million live with COPD.
• Greater Manchester has a notably high prevalence of these conditions, with emergency hospital admissions for asthma and COPD being 30% above the national average.
• Despite guidelines recommending annual reviews for respiratory patients, only about 30% of asthma patients and less than 20% of COPD patients receive adequate care.

🌱 Environmental Considerations

• The LungHealth technology aims to alleviate pressure on healthcare providers by streamlining patient reviews.
• Additionally, it supports the NHS’s green agenda by potentially reducing carbon-intensive hospital admissions related to asthma and COPD exacerbations.

🔗 Future Directions

• Data collected from this initiative will be utilized to inform NHS decision-making regarding the long-term adoption of technology for respiratory care.
• Ralph Blom, general manager at Chiesi UK and Ireland, emphasized the importance of this partnership in improving care for respiratory disease patients and addressing local healthcare needs.

📅 Upcoming Developments

• In June 2024, NICE is expected to publish draft guidance on digital self-management tools for COPD, which will include several approved technologies for NHS use.