Management of Chronic Respiratory Conditions for Primary and Community Practitioners

The impact of respiratory disease on society is financially detrimental to the NHS, but also has high societal and personal costs. Chronic respiratory diseases, in particular Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Asthma, are leading causes of death in the United Kingdom and this trend is advancing. Emergency hospital admissions for both diseases remain very high and annual General Practice COPD consultations have increased on average.

In response to this increasing pressure on health services, the NHS have listed respiratory diseases within their 2019 Long Term Plan, which seeks to modernise health care delivery. Improving access to care within primary and community healthcare settings is central to the plan, reducing pressures on secondary care. These strategic changes mean we need a workforce that is ready and able to deliver safe, effective and up to date clinical care to its patients, in order to improve patient outcomes.

You’ll gain insight into the strategic drivers related to respiratory healthcare, enhancing and building upon prior knowledge, integrating evolving new concepts and evidence surrounding respiratory diagnosis and management of the community based patient. This knowledge will be supported to transition into practice, where application of research to practice will be integral to the module assessment.

Outline content

• Local and national policy in relation to respiratory health care.
• Anatomy and pathophysiology of the respiratory system.
• Diagnosis and management of common respiratory conditions - predominately COPD and Asthma, including principles of quality assured spirometry and interpretation.
• Pharmacological management.
• Non-pharmacological management.
• Vaccination update (3 hour workshop)
• There will be dedicated time spent within the module to consider the pathophysiological effects of Covid-19 and an update on implications for current health services and emerging research.

Assessment

You’ll submit a 4000-word written assignment which will support the learning outcomes required to pass the module.

No practice mentor is required for this module.