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NATIONAL COPD AUDIT - 2003


Planned to start in September 2003, this audit of the hospital management of COPD is to be jointly run by the British Thoracic Society and the RCP London Clinical Effectiveness Unit.

It follows on from previous audits conducted in 1997 and 2001. All acute hospitals in the UK will be asked to take part.

Although it is anticipated that respiratory physicians will usually be able to take a lead role in each hospital, geriatricians are also encouraged to take part, and given the demographics of hospital admissions for acute exacerbation of COPD, it would seem very appropriate for us to do so. The British Geriatrics Society has been represented in the design stage of the audit.

Each participating centre will be asked to collect data on the management and outcome of 40 consecutively admitted patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, with a start date of September 1st 2003. An electronic database will be supplied and it will be possible to transfer data electronically, direct to the RCP.

The potential local benefits of participation are to enable comparisons of process and outcome with national and regional colleagues, and to identify possible gaps in local resources (particularly if these relate to differences in outcome). It is possible that participants will gain CME credits.

Many respiratory physicians and geriatricians have already expressed an interest in taking part, and thus for those reading this who are interested, it would probably be best to check with local colleagues to establish whether your hospital is already registered. If it is not, or if you are unsure, and you wish to take part, then please contact one of the following (regionally):

North of England and Scotland:
Dr Harold Hosker, Consultant Physician
Airedale Hospital, Keighley
West Yorkshire, BD20 6TD
Email: Harold.Hosker@anhst.nhs.uk

South:
Dr Mike Roberts, Consultant Physician
Chest Clinic, Whipps Cross Hospital
London E11 1NR
Email: Michael.Roberts@whippsx.nhs.uk

or

Katharine Anstey
National COPD Audit Coordinator
Royal College of Physicians
St Andrew’s Place
Regent’s Park
London NW1 4LE
Email: Katharine.Anstey@rcplondon.ac.uk

Martin Connolly
Manchester Royal Infirmary