It is an honour to represent you all as the clinical lead for the National Clinical Programme Respiratory (COPD and Asthma). It is such an exciting time to be working in the management of COPD and asthma. In recent years, there have been substantial changes in how we approach and manage patients with these conditions and we can finally offer this group patient-centred, and individualised care. We should be proud of the leading role Ireland is taking in improving access to early diagnosis and intervention for COPD and asthma patients nationwide. The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme, run by our GP colleagues is supporting people with COPD and asthma by offering 6-monthly disease specific review. 

While only established 5 years ago, CDM has already demonstrated improvements in cardiac and metabolic indices at a population level. I have no doubt that in time we will also see improvements in respiratory outcomes.

The success of CDM would not be possible without the work of community based and acute respiratory specialist teams working together to deliver specialist multidisciplinary clinical care. There are currently 26 specialist respiratory teams working in the community. Diagnostic spirometry is available at 17 community sites, and pulmonary rehabilitation is established in each RHA.

In this issue of the newsletter, the fantastic work being done by Dr Junaid Khan and his team in providing comprehensive community-based care to patients in the midlands region is highlighted. The support and collaboration of Dr Khan’s colleagues, and wider MDT, in Mullingar Regional Hospital and local community, have been fundamental to allowing him to develop a truly integrated service.

Finally it would be remiss of me not mention the challenges that must be overcome to ensure that the vision for improved chronic care for COPD and asthma patients is achieved. The loss of funding for 40% of respiratory community posts, in addition to the loss of acute posts, is a huge barrier to the successful implementation of enhanced community care. As NCP Lead, I have made it my priority to advocate for the restoration of posts by demonstrating the breadth of work that you are all doing nationwide and its impact.

Professor Breda Cushen,

Clinical Lead.