SPECIALIST CENTRES CONTINUE TO EXCEED TARGETS Every year since 2008, the UK’s specialist pulmonary hypertension centres have been asked to provide information on what they do and what their outcomes are, to ensure high standards are maintained. The ninth National Audit of Pulmonary Hypertension, based on data submitted between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018, shows even more targets are being met or exceeded. The findings include:
96
of patients have a quality of life questionnaire recorded at least once a year (an 8% increase on 2017)
59
of patients referred to a specialist centre attended a consultation or were discharged within 30 days (a 7% increase on 2017)
%
96
of patients had a right heart catheter before being given drugs to treat PH (a 5% increase on 2017)
98%
of patients had a WHO functional class and six-minute walk or shuttle exercise test recorded before being given drugs to treat PH (an 11% increase on last year)
%
%
Iain Armstrong, Chair of the PHA UK, said: “Again, we are seeing more improvement in even more areas - despite the many pressures facing the NHS. We have a network of specialist centres that make a big difference to people’s lives, and that’s something we should all be proud of. It’s vital that these services are protected.” The PHA UK played an important role in setting up the National Audit of Pulmonary Hypertension by funding its first year in 2010. The audit is now funded via NHS Special Commissioning in England and managed by NHS Digital in Leeds. NHS Digital have invited centres who have areas needing improvement to complete local action plans and share them with patients and the public. The full annual report and local action plans can be found here: www.digital.nhs.uk/pubs/naph9
SPECI A REPOR L T
Professor David Kiely has been appointed Clinical Lead of the National Audit of Pulmonary Hypertension following the retirement of Professor Simon Gibbs. David, who is Director of the Sheffield Pulmonary Vascular Disease Unit, said: “I feel very privileged to have been appointed to this role following on from all the fantastic work that Simon and the team at NHS Digital have done over the last ten years. Since its inception, the national audit has provided information on how many people in the UK have PH and how many people receive treatment. This is very important when planning services in the NHS. The audit also assesses the performance of individual centres against national standards, which ask questions about the appropriateness of PH services, whether people are receiving the correct treatment in a timely manner and information on outcomes. Importantly, since the introduction of these national standards there have been year on year improvements in the care that centres provide. Over coming years, I look forward to working closely with people affected by PH, the PHA UK and my colleagues in the NHS to ensure that the national audit continues to help secure the care we provide for patients in the UK as amongst the best in world." SPECIAL REPORT
In 2017/18, data for submitt
the
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THE NATIONAL AUDIT OF HYPERTENSPULMONAR ION 2018 Y KEY FINDINGS
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96%
How many patients, who have had one consultat at least the last year, ion in had a quality have of life question naire recorded during that time?
view...
We championed the introduction this target of as our members improvement tell us that of quality thing they of life is the want from main their It’s great to see an upward treatment. second year trend for the in a row.
95%
+8%
INCREASE ON 2017
ET
How many patien referr ts ed centre to a specia were seen, list assess ed within and diagn six month osed s?
PHA UK's
PHA UK's
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95% ET
How many patients received a right heart catheteri sation before being given drugs to treat PH?
ET
96%
0%
INCREA ON 2017SE
view...
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TARG
96%
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TARG
90%
TARG
How many patien taking PH specifi ts drugs c have one consu had at least ltation specia at a list PH within centre the last 13 month s?
PHA UK's
Regular assessme patients nt is vital to ensure treatmenare respondin g at least t, and specialistpositively to once being achieveda year. It’s s should be seen in line good to see this with targets.
95%
+5%
TARG TARG ET ET
0%
INCREA ON 2017SE
I can’t thank everyone specialist centre enoughat my extending my life and for me to continue helping enjoying retirement and family my life. Mary Jane
Since my diagnosis specialist at my centre had an angel I feel like I’ve watching me. The over care and treatment is beyond words. Asha
INCREASE ON 2017
See overleaf for more key findings from the Nationa Audit of l PH
WINTER 2018 emphasis 11
