The multi-disciplinary study seeks to evaluate the impact of admission and discharge care bundles for patients admitted to hospital with COPD. The study will compare the effectiveness of care bundles with usual care as a means of improving hospital care and reducing readmissions for patients with exacerbated COPD.

The study will include up to 20 hospital trusts in England and Wales who have agreed to deliver the COPD care bundles and another group of up to 20 hospital trusts who will not be delivering them. By comparing how many patients are admitted to, discharged from and readmitted to each type of hospital over time, and what happens to patients during and after their stay, we will be able to assess how successful COPD care bundles are.

The study will take place over a 40-month period, and will provide independent evidence of the impact of COPD care bundles on care during and after hospital admissions and future readmissions. It will also indicate how a coordinated care package might improve quality of care, equity of access, patient and carer experience and service delivery for COPD patients within the acute setting, taking into account cost implications and implementation challenges. 

Download the COPD care bundles study protocol (PDF, 751kB).