Can the multidisciplinary input of an asthma nurse specialist and respiratory physician improve the discharge management of acute asthma admissions

Suboptimal discharge management of asthmatic patients increases risk of early re-hospitalisation,1,2 creating potentially avoidable burden for patients and medical services. British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines propose optimal management standards.3 A 2007 audit in our hospital against those guidelines found poor discharge related asthma management. Consequently, in January 2008 an asthma nurse specialist (ANS) was introduced in parallel with respiratory physician (RP)-led management of acute respiratory admissions.