Health news June 2006Heat Health WatchThe Heat-Health Watch service began on 1 June and not soon after we had to issue our first warnings as temperatures rose to 32.4 °C in London on 12 June. However, this period of hot weather was relatively short-lived and the alert state did not rise above Level 1 - Increased risk. Later in the month temperatures rose again and the first Level 3 heatwave warning was issued in early July - more details on this event will follow next month. Benefits evaluationOur benefits evaluation of the COPD Health Forecasting Service during 2005/06 is now almost complete. A two-sided A4 document summarising the benefits that have been realised over the winter of 2005/06, by those areas and practices taking part in the COPD Health Forecasting project, has been produced. Contact health@metoffice.gov.uk for more details. In addition the Department of Health has recently published the London School evaluation of the 2004/05 service. The report concluded that 'the predictability of week-to-week variation in risk of COPD admission offers the basis for improving the management of COPD patients through forecast-responsive care pathways. The evidence appears sufficiently encouraging to recommend wider testing. However, formal assessment of cost-effectiveness is needed once more experience of how best to use health forecasting has been gained.' ResearchThere was a lot of interest in the two posters on our COPD work, which we presented at the American Thoracic Society Annual Conference in San Diego, 19-24 May. The references are:
This month, we presented an abstract on the COPD service at the Faculty of Public Health Annual Scientific Meeting in Glasgow, 6-8 June. William Bird was also invited to present at the British Thoracic Society summer meeting in Aberdeen, 14-16 June. The presentation was titled Forecasting COPD exacerbations: Whether it can help. We have had two posters accepted for the European Respiratory Society annual conference in Munich, 2-6 September. They are Forecasting COPD Winter Hospital Admissions to promote anticipatory care: a Met Office Health Forecasting framework, and How different measures of cold weather affect Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) hospital admissions in London. The latter, by Penny Marno, won one of 15 travel awards for best poster. We have had a paper accepted by the Primary Care Respiratory Journal, based on an audit undertaken at The Parchmore Partnership in Croydon as part of the Winter 2004/05 trial of Health Forecasting. Written by Agnelo Fernandes, Susan Pache, William Bird and Clare Bryden it is titled Measures to improve knowledge and self-care among patients with COPD: a UK general practice audit. Finally, we have two abstracts accepted as presentations at the Health Protection Agency conference in Warwick, 11-13 September, one of which is on COPD work and titled The use of Influenza surveillance data to forecast risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation resulting in hospitalization. From the Regions Cheshire & Merseyside The PCTs working on Health Forecasting for Winter 2006/07 are Liverpool, Wirral, Cheshire West, St Helens and Halton. Practices are currently being approached to consider how they will apply the forecast within their locality. Partnership working is being encouraged, involving Environmental Health and Health through Warmth. Consideration is being given to a communication strategy that will reach and educate patients who have not been previously admitted, or are, as yet, undiagnosed. South West Peninsula The South West Peninsula Health Authority and Central Cornwall PCT, in association with the British Lung Foundation, Met Office and the Eden Project, held a Lung Walk on 14 June to mark the BLF Lungs for Life campaign. The event celebrated the work that the Cornish Health Community has been doing with Eden, to promote activity for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Patients have been attending Eden on a weekly basis to participate in a unique activity programme, which includes walking and armchair Pilates. This regular activity has been inspired by the activity intervention which forms part of the anticipatory care delivered through the COPD Health Forecasting project. Medical studies have proven that physical activity can improve quality of life and reduce the risk of exacerbation by up to 50%.
The Project has had a huge impact on the lives of the patients attending: "The project is brilliant. Both the Eden Activity Programme and Health Forecasting are encouraging pre-emptive care which is wonderful. This has made a real difference to me..." Quote from one of the patients taking part in the pilot Another patient has now resumed driving after a break of 11 years, and one lady is going to attempt the zip wire - after previously not being able to walk without oxygen and the constant support of her husband. Each walker carried a red balloon to symbolise the work of the British Lung Foundation and to reinforce the message that "lungs are for life".
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Eden
was chosen as this was a place that was generally felt to be 'out
of reach' for patients with COPD, due to its location and number of
hills. However, this project has proven that COPD patients can access
facilities such as Eden and are able to enjoy days out with their
families, which were previously felt beyond their ability.