Asthma
Society Welcomes Asthma Prioritisation in HSE 2010 Plan
February 17th 2010
The Asthma Society of Ireland
today welcomed the news that asthma is a priority in the
HSE National Service Plan for 2010 and acknowledged the
commitment of the HSE to develop a programmatic approach
to asthma care.
Clear time lines have now
been set for the development and approval of a National
Implementation Plan for the asthma programme. In addition,
the percentage of Primary Care Teams implementing structured
asthma care and the number of patients partaking in formal,
structured asthma care will serve as key results areas
in primary care. The benchmark for structured care will
be the Guidelines developed jointly by the Asthma Society
of Ireland and the ICGP in 2008.
Dr Jean Holohan, CEO Asthma
Society of Ireland commented, "This is a very positive
outcome for the Asthma Society as it reflects the work
done over the past two years, working in partnership with
both healthcare professionals and health service providers
to develop an asthma management programme in Ireland. From
the outset we were encouraged by the Minister for Health
and Children who saw the clear patient benefits of implementing
evidence based asthma management. We are delighted that
our collaboration with the HSE, and in particular their
engagement with international asthma experts, has helped
to shape the development of a programmatic approach to
asthma care."
The Asthma Society of Ireland
is currently funding a project in 25 primary care sites
- including GPs, practices nurses and community pharmacists
- to identify barriers and solutions to the implementation
of asthma guidelines in everyday practice. Dr Pat Manning,
Chair of the Asthma Society’s Medical Advisory Committee
commented "Engagement with healthcare professionals in
the Demonstration Project is coming to fruition in 2010.
The practices involved will help inform the development
of a national programme and highlight the resources needed
to manage asthma in a primary care setting and reduce the
current significant burden to patients and acute hospitals."
The
HSE has identified the base line study as a key deliverable
in the 2010 Service Plan as part of their programmatic
approach to tackling asthma as a chronic disease. Dr Holohan
added "By recognising the Demonstration Project as an example
of an effective patient centred approach to managing chronic
disease and by building on the data from the study the
HSE is affirming the achievements we have made so far.
This is a great example of what can be achieved when a
patient organisation works in partnership healthcare professionals
and health service providers."
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