Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
1278. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in fully commencing the chronic care programme for asthma, and the target dates he is working to for the commencement and full implementation of the programme. [17028/13]
View answer1324. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the first phase of the national asthma programme will be implemented; the initial actions that will be taken by him in order to implement the programmer; and the deadlines for these actions [17519/13]
View answer1325. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason implementation of the national asthma programme was not prioritised in the 2013 Health Service Executive services plan with more than one person per week dying from asthma and 470,000 people here living with this respiratory disease that is particularly prevalent in children, with one in five children here suffering from the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17520/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1278, 1324 and 1325 together.
Implementation of the National Asthma Programme (NAP) commenced in 2011. The overarching aim of the NAP is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with asthma in Ireland and to improve clinical outcomes and the quality of life of all patients with asthma. A key component is improved management of people with asthma in primary care and, thereby, avoiding attendances at emergency departments and hospital admissions. The target is to reduce bed days for acute asthma by 10% per year over 3 years through implementing the programme’s asthma guidelines and national model of care. In the first year of programme, there was an 8% reduction in acute hospital bed days.
The initial focus of the work of the NAP has been on the development and implementation of national asthma guidelines. The National Model of Care for Asthma will detail how physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals will work with engaged patients to make the clinical decisions most appropriate to their circumstances and to collaborate with specialist colleagues in providing a safe, seamless experience within the health system. This includes a model for the management of asthma in primary care and the necessary links with specialist hospital services. The National Model of Care will document the care that should be provided for a patient with asthma in both primary and secondary care and is a key deliverable for the National Asthma Programme for 2013. 85% of asthma is managed in primary care, which is in line with the Government's policy of providing care as close as possible to the patient's home.
Adult Emergency Asthma Guidelines were published in November 2011 and are available online at www.hse.ie. These guidelines are being revised at present and will be submitted to the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC). Paediatric Emergency Asthma Guidelines have also been developed and will be available for circulation shortly. Guidelines for managing a patient with asthma in primary care have recently been approved by the Irish College of General Practitioners and are currently being circulated.
A self-learning asthma e-learning 6 modular theoretical programme, based on the national evidenced based guidelines and developed by NAP in conjunction with the Asthma Society of Ireland is available online at http://www.hseland.ie and www.asthmasociety.ie. This will enable healthcare professionals to underpin their skill sets with theory. There is also a similar programme available for GPs on the ICGP website. In addition, a practical workshop is also being delivered by Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists for staff in Primary Care and hospitals. This education programme will continue throughout 2013.
