Health & Safety Update (March 2010)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Consultation
Issued
The Department of Health is inviting responses to a consultation
on a strategy to tackle the growing problem of COPD in England.
COPD is a condition that progressively damages the lungs making
it increasingly difficult to breathe. Whilst this cannot be
reversed, early diagnosis and effective treatment can slow its
progress. According to the HSE, the main cause of COPD is cigarette
smoking, however, exposure to dusts in the workplace can also cause
COPD, even in people who don't smoke.
Research findings suggest that for the UK:
- around 15% of COPD may be caused or made worse by work
- 4,000 COPD deaths every year may be related to work
exposures
- four in every 10 COPD patients are below retirement age
- a quarter of those below retirement age are unable to work at
all.
COPD is thought to affect over three million people in England,
but less than a million of these have been diagnosed. One of
the main aims of the strategy will be to support the local NHS in
identifying those who are not aware they have the condition and
helping them to receive an early and accurate diagnosis and
treatment to limit further damage. The strategy also looks at care
for people with asthma as it is often confused with COPD and there
are similarities in treatment for the two conditions.
The strategy sets out a number of clear recommendations to
improve outcomes for patients and help to reduce the cost of COPD
to the NHS including:
- identifying the disease earlier
- improving diagnosis of COPD and asthma
- helping people to manage their condition better through
structured education and exercise
- reducing admissions and re-admissions to hospital
- improving access to end of life care
- working to prevent COPD.
The Department of Health consultation is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/index.htm