Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Public Health England (PHE) provide a snapshot of lung health in South Tyneside (and other local authority/ CCG areas), called Inhale (Interactive Health Atlas of Lung conditions in England). We have triangulated these data with the NHS Rightcare Commissioning for Value packs and locally produced data on respiratory disease, to identify the following key issues:

• High prevalence of smoking, and a particular legacy of smoking and heavy industry,
• High recorded prevalence of COPD (the highest in England) - 3.7% which is double the national average (1.8%) - this prevalence has been on the increase year on year, however it still falls short of our estimated prevalence (4.25%),
• High levels of non-elective admissions related to COPD, around 650 - 700 emergency COPD admissions per year- however, it's important to note that when the rate of emergency COPD admissions are adjusted for prevalence, the rate is not statistically different to the national average,
• Low capacity in pulmonary rehabilitation services relative to the size of the prevalence,
• There is an unmet need in relation to less severe cases of COPD (MRC score <3),
• Significant levels of co-morbidity in relation to COPD,
• There is a need to consider end of life pathways for patients diagnosed with COPD.