Michael Healy-Rae
Question:820. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding asthma. [33156/14]
View answerWednesday, 17 September 2014
Questions (820)
Written answers
The National Clinical Programme for Asthma (NCPA) Model of Care was recently approved by the HSE and is now planned for implementation in accordance with the HSE's National Service Plan 2014 and work is currently ongoing by NCPA on an implementation plan for the Model of Care.
The Model of Care details 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 patient experience within the health system in Ireland. Recommendations, such as the use of guidelines and asthma education training, are already underway.
Asthma management involves a partnership between the patient and the relevant health care professional, with frequent revision and reinforcement. The aim is to give patients (and parents/caregivers), where possible, the ability to control their own (or their child’s) asthma condition, with guidance from health care professionals. For this reason, education of patients to ensure self-management and patient empowerment is an integral and fundamental part of the Model of Care and at all points of contact with the health services.
The role of the health care professional is key to the education and empowerment of patients, so that patients are well informed, guided by the professional and confident in self-management of their asthma. The role of GPs, practice nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals in encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own care needs to be clearly articulated, in both education and practice.
Like adults, children with asthma (and their parents) need to know how to self-manage their own condition. Guided self-management education, including self-monitoring of peak expiratory flow and/or symptoms, with regular medical review, supported by a written asthma management plan has been found to improve health outcomes.
Up-to-date information is available for patients and their families and carers. There are easily accessible patient asthma education supports which have been implemented in conjunction with the NCPA's key stakeholder, the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI), to assist guided self-management for this chronic condition. These are available on both the HSE and ASI websites ( http://www.hseland.ie and www.asthmasociety.ie ).
A self-learning asthma E-Learning 6 modular theoretical programme based on the national asthma evidenced based guidelines and developed by NCPA in conjunction with ASI is freely available on http://www.hseland.ie and www.asthmasociety.ie for any health care professional who wishes to update their knowledge. This will enable health care 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 for staff in primary and secondary care by Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists. This education programme will continue throughout 2014-2015.