In an effort to reduce the length of hospital stays for lung disease patients, a specialist respiratory team in Midlothian is offering care in the patients’ own homes. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung conditions resulting in breathing difficulties. The aim of this initiative is to dramatically reduce the amount of time COPD patients stay in hospital and free up NHS hospital beds for other patients. Midlothian, which manages around 80 COPD patients at any given time, has the largest rate of COPD in Scotland.
The Community Respiratory Team (CRT) is providing a variety of services to patients, including psychological support and physiotherapy and offering advice on practicing healthy behaviors such as exercise and healthy eating. Jannette Huxley, who frequently hospitalized for her COPD, and others have noted significant improvement since receiving support. With the right level of care available in the community, the team led by Claire Yerramasu, which also provides assistance for acute flare-ups, has successfully helped patients manage their COPD and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
This “virtual ward” model cuts down on healthcare expenses while being better for patients and freeing up hospital beds for individuals who need acute care, according to Dr. Gourab Chowdray. Despite the success of this program, recruitment remains an ongoing challenge, just like most health services. There are still significant vacancies within the health service, with physiotherapy posts remaining unfilled. Despite these challenges, models like the Community Respiratory Team and Hospital at Home are gaining popularity, and other healthcare providers are looking to implement these virtual wards
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