The impact of a rapid access clinic on COPD hospital admissions

We reported recently the impact on hospital admissions of different models of community-based chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care across Gwent, South Wales. Based on the lessons from this work we changed the Gwent Chronic Respiratory Disease Service (CRDS) to provide COPD care integrated across primary, secondary and intermediate care boundaries. This study explores the impact of the introduction of a consultant-led rapid access outpatient service into the CRDS. When compared to all-Wales data we showed a significant reduction in COPD hospital admissions, readmission and length of hospital stay. The reduction was temporally associated with the date of service change and in Blaenau Gwent where no change took place there was no difference from All-Wales figures. This study data suggests that the introduction of a consultant-led rapid access clinic reduces hospital admissions for patients with COPD.