A multi-skilled team at West Middlesex University Hospital has scooped a national award for improving care for patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Their ‘discharge care bundle’ was selected above many entries from trusts across England for the HQIP (Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership) award for creating and improving efficiencies.
Patients with COPD have damaged lungs which can cause shortness of breath, chronic cough, and acute exacerbations which can require hospitalisation.
Staff on the hospital’s Osterley 2 respiratory ward, supported by a respiratory specialist nurse, project manager, physiotherapist and smoking cessation team, put in dedicated work since May 2010 to improve care for COPD patients.
They created and implemented a ‘care bundle’ which included providing information booklets, offering advice on stopping smoking, ensuring patients could use their inhalers properly, providing outpatient appointments, and follow-up telephone calls to check on patients’ conditions after discharge. Staff also received extra tuition to boost their understanding and skills in this area.
These methods achieved a significant improvement in patient care and staff experience. 85 per cent of the 110 patients involved say that they found the care bundle useful or very useful. The 28 day COPD readmission rate also showed a reduction.
Dr Bobby Mann, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine and clinical Lead for the project received the award with Essam Ramhamadany, Head of Research and Development, and Sandy Wilson, Project Manager.
Dr Mann said: “We were very proud to receive a national award for the COPD care bundle on behalf of the nurses, staff and other health professionals on the respiratory ward. The project was sustained over 16 busy and changeable months thanks to their hard work and dedication in looking after patients with COPD after admission. Maintaining this level of care was a real achievement.”
The project’s success means there are plans to roll out the care bundle across other wards within the hospital.
~ ENDS ~
Notes to Editors:
For information or to arrange an interview, please contact the communications team on 020 8321 6342.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition characterized by lung tissue damage and progressive airflow obstruction and is primarily caused by smoking in 90% of cases. It can result in shortness of breath, chronic cough, and acute exacerbations with can require hospitalisation
After 16 months, 110 patients were discharged using the care bundle. Local CQIN data (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) showed that the 28 day COPD readmission rate had fallen from 25% in 2009/2010, to 18.4% in 2010/2011 (a reduction of 26.4%, p=0.06). 85% of patients, who replied, said they found the bundle useful or very useful.
HQIP (Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership) promotes clinical audit and healthcare quality improvement, managing the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes. www.hqip.org.uk
