AB018. Improving the management of patients’ assigned COPD treatment (IMPACT): turning risk assessment into practice

Background North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group (NNCCG) comprises of 19 GP surgeries (rural approx. 168,000 patients) and has seen an increase in COPD admissions of 30% 2012–13 and 2013–14.The change in the way Healthcare is delivered in England as a result of the 2012 Health & Social Care Act means that CCG’s are under increasing financial pressure, Social Care budgets have been cut by up to 40% in some regions, and care is becoming increasingly fragmented between different organisations. The five year forward plan set out by the NHS highlights the use of Specialist Primary & Community Care Clinicians as an important way of aligning healthcare, reducing admissions and reducing the inequalities seen in Primary Care across England. Reducing short stay COPD admissions is a priority for this CCG as is reducing inappropriate high dose ICS prescriptions in an area where high dose ICS/LABA combinations are often the single highest prescription cost per practice. Improving patient access to good quality COPD care was an aim as was asking patients what they would find useful when they were acutely unwell with a COPD exacerbation.