NEW DATA: New NHS Wales lung app could reduce demand on GPs by a third

New NHS Wales lung app could reduce demand on GPs by a third – new data shows

An evaluation of the new NHS Wales asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) apps shows that they could reduce pressure on GPs and cut admissions to Accident and Emergency departments.

The self-management apps created by NHS Wales by the Institute for Clinical Science and Technology (ICST) currently have over 20,000 downloads, and 99% of GP practices in Wales have patients using them.

The data shows people who regularly use the respiratory apps for more than 6 months improve their lung health, resulting in over a third (36%) of users reducing their visits to the GP and one in five (19%) reducing their admissions to A&E.¹

With current extreme pressures on our health services, leading lung charity Asthma + Lung UK Cymru is encouraging anyone with asthma or COPD to download the NHS Wales health hub apps saying it provides a digital bridge between patients and the NHS. There is also an asthma for parents app designed to help children with asthma.

Rather than seeing a healthcare professional once a year, the apps allow people to monitor their condition on an ongoing basis, helping someone avoid a potentially life-threatening asthma attack or COPD flare-up and reducing the risk of hospitalisation. The apps are easily available to download on both Apple and Google App Store.

Lung disease costs NHS Wales over £500 million a year, making it the fourth most costly disease area.² Asthma + Lung UK Cymru welcomes the new data, saying technology has the potential to improve the care delivered by healthcare professionals, and help to activate self-management at scale to help the 314,000 people with asthma in Wales.

Alice Spencer, who has asthma from Cardiff says, “The app empowers people with asthma and COPD to manage their condition at the touch of their fingertips.”

“I use the app every month to monitor my symptoms and peak flow. I wasn’t aware you could request a peak flow meter from your GP. I now have one and use it to monitor my breathing every month and when I have a cold. The app has also meant I am more aware of my triggers so that I stay well and avoid an asthma attack.

“Before using the app, I wasn’t aware that if I’m using my reliever inhaler three times a week or more it could mean that my asthma is not well controlled and that I could be at risk of an asthma attack. I am now more confident in managing my condition at home and only contact my GP if I am concerned about my symptoms. I feel the app is very useful and empowers people with asthma to manage their own condition more effectively on a day-to-day.

Dr Simon Barry, National Clinical Lead for respiratory disease in Wales, said:

“These apps are the culmination of a partnership between patients and the NHS in Wales with the aim of creating expert patients, better equipped to manage their own respiratory illnesses. They are free to use, bilingual and have been shown to reduce accident and emergency attendances and GP visits in those who regularly use them. We need all healthcare professionals to be promoting their use.

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru said:

“Right now, people who have lung conditions are extremely concerned about the uncertainty of access to healthcare. Living with any chronic illness adds a certain amount of stress to your life and these digital tools can help mitigate that and provide comfort for those living with COPD and Asthma in Wales.

“Technology offers much promise, but we are still at the early stages. More needs to be done to help ensure that people with lung conditions like asthma and COPD can benefit from a new connected way of self-managing their condition.