Stockton and Hartlepool stop smoking service lung health project

Author and presenter:
Eileen Hutchinson
Specialist Stop Smoking Nurse Advisor, Stockton and Hartlepool Foundation Trust, UK

Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable but largely preventable disease describing a number of lung conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is a widespread disease but many patients are unaware of the disease but despite this ‘low profile’ National Statistics in 2006 show COPD is the UK’s fifth biggest killer, and the most common cause of emergency admissions to hospital.

The most common cause of COPD is smoking and stopping smoking is the single most effective way of reducing the risk of developing COPD.

As COPD is a progressive disease the service has developed a patient case finding project which commenced January 2010. The project identifies clients in ‘at risk’ groups for COPD and targets clinics in areas with high COPD prevalence.

We offer Spirometry testing in primary care stop smoking clinics to a target group of smokers and send the results of the test and patients symptoms to the patient’s GP for diagnosis, support and treatment. This will identify COPD earlier in the disease pathway; improving cost effectiveness in primary and secondary care and patient’s quality of life.

Source of funding: Funding is from the Stockton and Hartlpool Stop Smoking Service who are running a six month pilot on this scheme which commenced January 2010.

Declaration of interest: none