About the study

Avoiding unnecessary use of hospital services is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the NHS. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases in the United Kingdom and accounts for 10% of hospital admissions each year. Nearly a third of these patients are readmitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge.

COPD care bundles could play a key role in resolving the issue of unplanned admissions. Care bundles are a way of ensuring that staff provide a coordinated package of care to patients with COPD when they arrive at and are sent home from hospital.

The study is designed as a controlled before-and-after study with nested qualitative case studies. The study will include a group of up to 20 hospitals in England and Wales who have already agreed to implement the COPD care bundles, and up to 20 “comparator” hospitals who will not be delivering them. By comparing how many patients are readmitted to each type of hospital over a one year period, and what happens to patients during their stay, we will be able to assess how successful COPD care bundles are.

There is more information in the study summary on the ISRCTN register and in the pilot study report published by the British Thoracic Society.

What are the benefits of taking part?

Following completion of this study, the following benefits for participating trusts are anticipated:

• Shorter length of stay and reduced mortality/ readmission rates for patients admitted with COPD
• Improved care experience for patients admitted with COPD and their carers
• Creation of a multi-disciplinary team confident in quality improvement methodologies

*Update February 2017: This study is now closed to recruitment*