The Department of Health (DoH) has launched a consultation into the care of chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD), in which the public, stakeholders and healthcare staff are being asked to participate.

Around 3 million people in England alone are thought to be affected by COPD – but less than a million of these have been diagnosed, says the DoH.

A new strategy is being consulted on to support local NHS trusts in identifying patients who are not aware they have COPD – and helping them to receive an early and accurate diagnosis and treatment, which would help limit further damage to their health.

The strategy will also aim to care for people with asthma, which is often confused with COPD – treatment for the two conditions has certain similarities, say doctors.

The DoH says that those involved in developing the new COPD strategy include the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK, as well as those working in health and social care – and patients with COPD and asthma and their carers.

The DoH has already identified personalised care plans as important for helping all people with long-term conditions – including COPD and asthma – to understand and manage their condition.

The strategy sets out a number of clear recommendations to improve outcomes for patients and help to reduce the cost of COPD, including identifying COPD earlier, improving diagnosis of COPD and asthma – and helping patients manage their condition better through structured education and exercise.

The strategy will also aim to reduce admissions and re-admissions to hospital, improve access to end of life care – and implement measures to help prevent COPD in England.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said that the strategy would ‘focus minds across the NHS’ on better diagnosis and earlier treatment of COPD.

‘COPD is notoriously hard to spot in its early stages – and yet the sooner it is diagnosed, the more we can do for people with the condition,’ said Mr Burnham.

‘There are more than 3 million people with COPD in this country – yet less than a million have been diagnosed, so we need to raise awareness and improve knowledge of the symptoms as a matter of urgency.’

Chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, Dame Helena Shovelton, said:

‘We warmly welcome the launch of the consultation for the strategy for COPD.

‘The British Lung Foundation has campaigned for this for a number of years as we believe

that when implemented, the strategy will make a real difference to the lives of over 3 million people in England who are affected by COPD.

‘Our aim is to work alongside the strategy to ensure that more people are diagnosed with the condition at an earlier stage and given the treatment and care they so desperately need.’

Chief executive of Asthma UK, Neil Churchill, said:

‘We welcome publication of the strategy and are delighted that asthma is included.

‘We believe there are real opportunities to improve the way both COPD and asthma are

managed in England, to the benefit of patients, their carers and to the taxpayer.’

Mr Churchill added that asthma was a major cause of hospital admissions and that Asthma UK estimated that the NHS could save around £200 million a year and provide better care ‘through greater education, self-care and targeted interventions’.

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