Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve access to diagnosis, timely follow-up after hospital discharge, and treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

There is a wide range of work taking place across NHS England to support the implementation of the recommendations of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. In relation to access to diagnosis, NHS England has published commissioning standards, which are available on the NHS.UK website in an online only format, and worked with a range of partners to create a package for systems containing the information and support required to help increase the number of people receiving early and accurate diagnosis for respiratory disease, including those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).​

NHS England has incentivised diagnosis within the Quality Outcomes Framework, which includes respiratory indicators in relation to the diagnosis of asthma and COPD. Community Diagnostic Centres are being established to deliver additional, digitally connected, diagnostic capacity in England, providing patients with a coordinated set of diagnostic tests in the community, in as few visits as possible, enabling an accurate and fast diagnosis on a range of clinical pathways, including for people with chronic respiratory disease.

To support patients with a timely follow-up after hospital discharge, a discharge bundle for COPD is included within the Guidance on best practice tariffs for 2023 to 2025, a copy of which is attached. This includes a review of medication, the provision of a self-management plan, including an emergency drug pack where appropriate, smoking cessation support, assessment for pulmonary rehabilitation, and ensuring appropriate follow up arrangements are in place prior to discharge.