Innovative software to support routine respiratory reviews
Computer-guided respiratory reviews aim to reduce the burden of asthma attacks and COPD exacerbations on both patients themselves and the healthcare professionals who care for them
Routine chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma reviews are fundamental to the care package that general practice nurses need to deliver. Having worked as a GP for 16 years and working in urgent care and A&E departments locally, I have seen firsthand that regular monitoring and support are vital to ensuring that patients understand, manage and live well with a chronic respiratory condition.
To this end, a new software program is being trialled in Greater Manchester, with the aim of improving outcomes in COPD and asthma. The MISSION project, launched by Health Innovation Manchester and Chiesi UK & Ireland (Chiesi) will also evaluate whether the LungHealth software can improve the overall quality, effectiveness and consistency of respiratory reviews. As a clinical lead on the project, I look forward to seeing the impact of MISSION on practice nurses, their day-to-day workload and overall disease management.
The software draws information from GP records and international guidelines to enhance patient care, generating digital algorithms that produce personalised computer-guided consultations. These reviews, whether virtual or face-to-face, ensure that all patients can access the care they need. In doing so, the project aims to reduce the burden of asthma and COPD exacerbations on patients and healthcare professionals, and to provide better support for patients with asthma and COPD, potentially leading to improved quality of life.
THE NEED TO IMPROVE COPD AND ASTHMA CARE
I have seen the impact of poorly controlled asthma and COPD on patients and their families throughout my career. Long term conditions often impact patients not just physically, but psychologically, and certainly impact on wellbeing. I’ve found that poorly controlled respiratory diseases are often linked to anxiety which can then heighten feelings of breathlessness. Being able to support patients to have greater understanding of their condition and control of the symptoms can have a huge impact on overall wellbeing and quality of life, and this was a clear driver for the partnership between Health Innovation Manchester and Chiesi.
This project has the ability to make a real difference to general practice nurses and their workload. By providing digital tools to support them, nurses are able to deliver comprehensive reviews, with a training and support package provided along with the AI-guided software. In turn, we hope this will reduce burden on healthcare providers and COPD and asthma exacerbations in the community. Given that the North West has a high prevalence of asthma and COPD, it’s critical that healthcare professionals are supported in providing high quality disease management and support.1
This is particularly relevant in light of a rising demand for healthcare services across the UK. Staff retention is an increasing issue with 10.7% (154,000) of existing staff leaving their NHS role in 2023.2 Given the rising demand on healthcare services and staffing challenges, it is essential to equip nurses with practical and scalable tools. LungHealth offers a solution to help mitigate these pressures and support healthcare professionals, while improving quality of care.3
HOW MISSION SUPPORTS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Current guidelines recommend that respiratory patients should receive regular reviews, at least every 12 months.4,5 However, due to continued pressures on the primary care system, many asthma and COPD patients may not receive these reviews as recommended.6,7
To try to close this gap, the MISSION project aims to support practice nurses in delivering high-quality, clinically validated respiratory reviews.3 The LungHealth software will provide prompts to streamline the review process, tailoring it to each individual’s needs and enabling nurses to enhance the delivery of patient-centred care. This approach empowers patients to better manage their condition, aiming to reduce the frequency of exacerbations and therefore the need for further intervention.
I have observed how empowering nurses with the right tools can transform patient outcomes, enabling better management of chronic respiratory conditions and truly making a difference in the lives of those affected.
THE LUNGHEALTH ROLLOUT
In total, the MISSION project is rolling out the LungHealth software in up to 150 practices across the Greater Manchester region.
Recruitment is planned as three cohorts; the first cohort includes practices with prior experience in using the LungHealth software, through participation in the pilots. With their background in using the technology to improve respiratory care, this allows those practices to reap the benefits of the initiative in a shorter period of time and also helps us to anticipate potential challenges that may arise in the broader rollout.
The first cohort of practices is then being encouraged to act as champions for the second cohort. Using the experience of the staff from the first cohort, the second cohort can be mentored as they implement the technology, learning from any challenges and benefits experienced by their colleagues. This is an example of the benefit of the localised approach of the MISSION project, and also the value of collaboration between Manchester based organisations.
Our third cohort is still being finalised as we’re taking stock of the success of the initiative so far. We’d love to hear from any practices across Greater Manchester who would be interested in getting involved with this project.
CONCLUSION
MISSION aims to demonstrate the value of technological innovations to support improved respiratory outcomes and inform the NHS to aid decision-making on long-term adoption. Over the winter period, when we expect an increase in asthma and COPD exacerbations, it is essential that we not only support patients effectively, but also significantly ease the burden on our health service. The project aims to address these challenges by ensuring general practice nurses are equipped with the necessary tools to manage respiratory conditions more efficiently, ultimately easing the burden on healthcare professionals. We need to plan for the future and ensure the NHS is moving with the times, not only in terms of technology, but by addressing the workforce issues effectively.
I’m proud that the MISSION partnership will help to ensure patients are receiving consistent, high-quality care, with a particular focus on practice nurses and their critical role in managing respiratory health. The software intends to benefit not only patients, but also healthcare professionals, demonstrating the role technology can play in addressing health challenges. By standardising and streamlining the process of asthma and COPD reviews, I hope that innovations such as this, once proven, could be scaled up by the NHS to improve outcomes and drive efficiencies nation-wide.
I encourage any practices in the Greater Manchester area to contact Chiesi if you wish to be part of our third cohort.
- For more information, please contact: uk-msl@chiesi.com
REFERENCES
1. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) Respiratory disease, Respiratory disease - Data - OHID. https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/respiratory-disease/data#page/1.
2. The King's Fund. Staff Shortages. The King’s Fund; 2024. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/data-and-charts/staff-shortages
3. LungHealth; 2024 https://www.lunghealth.co.uk/software/
4. NICE NG115. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in over 16s: diagnosis and management; 2018 (Last updated 2019). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng115/
5. NICE NG80. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management; 2017 (Last updated March 2021). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80
6. Asthma + Lung UK. COPD in the UK: Delayed diagnosis and unequal care; 2022. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/world-copd-day/delayed-diagnosis-unequal-care
7. Asthma + Lung UK. Asthma Care in a Crisis: Annual Asthma Survey: 2020. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/aas-2020_2a-1.pdf