COPD

• About Us

  In comparison with other areas in Greater Manchester, Wigan has the highest emergency respiratory rate and the highest emergency admission rate for patients with COPD. The aim of our service is to:

  • Reduce hospital admissions for these patients by providing a high quality service to support patients during the acute exacerbation (worsening) of their condition
  • Provide an early discharge service for patients that are admitted and reduce the number of bed days for these patients
  • Establish ongoing follow up nurse-led clinics, reducing re-admissions and respiratory consultants’ waiting lists
  • Provide a long-term oxygen assessment service for patients who require oxygen at home for more than 15 hours a day and to ensure correct education and safety of these patients

  The overall aim of the service is to keep the patient functioning in the community for as long as possible whilst providing a highly specialist standard of care.

• COPD Assessment Service

  There are 3 aspects to the service; the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Service 'Hospital at Home Service' is for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. The service is led by specialist nurses. The unit is open between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm, Monday - Friday; outside of these hours the patients are referred to the Emergency Floor or Short Stay Unit and are assessed the following working day by a specialist nurse.
   
  The service consists of an acute assessment service and an early discharge service.  Patients are also assessed for Long Term Oxygen Therapy by the specialist nurses.  This is done in conjunction with patient assessments for discharge and nurse-led follow up clinics.  Patients attend these nurse-led clinics as an alternative to follow up in a Respiratory Chest Physician clinic 6 weeks post exacerbation.

  In addition to the above developments; a short stay unit has been established for the treatment of patients with respiratory and chest pain conditions.  The ward consists of 20 beds, 10 of these have been allocated to respiratory patients and 10 to chest pain patients. 

  Referral policy

  • The referral method shall be direct by telephone or pager and followed up with signed, faxed GP referral form or letter.
  • The patient must fit referral (inclusion) category.
  • The Service will operate between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm (Monday to Friday inclusive).  All patients referred to the service must present before 3.00pm.
  • If unit closed, refer to the Emergency Floor.  Specialist Nurses will assess the following working day, after referral by relevant staff.
  • GP to arrange the patients transfers to unit via the Emergency Floor after discussion with specialist nurse. COPD team to inform the Emergency Floor of expected admission
  • Medical and Nursing staff on the acute site or GPs can refer patients.
  • Doctors wishing to refer patients with an exacerbation of COPD must have examined the patient with regard to COPD within 24 hours of referral to the COPD Unit. (With the exception of medical staff seeing the patient on the Friday prior to weekend and after discussion with the COPD Specialist Nurse). 
  • The COPD team will not assess patients discharged prior to referral to service, unless discussed with the COPD Specialist Nurse and arrangements made by the discharging doctor for the patient to attend the COPD unit for assessment on the next available working day.

  Within the department we have:
  5 assessment cubicles
  1 resuscitation area
  1 Consultant/Unit Manager office
  Secretary’s office

• Contact Us

  Telephone Number: 01942 822231
  Fax Number:  01942 822239