Bolton: Pilot launched monitoring patients with lung disease at home

Technology launched at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust will allow patients to keep track of their own lung function with the aim of detecting if their condition worsens as early as possible, so staff can intervene sooner.

Previously, patients with interstitial lung disease received a lung function test approximately twice a year, whereas the new pilot allows patients to take readings as often as they would like.

This means clinical staff will be able to routinely monitor patients through a central dashboard that alerts them to any deterioration and to arrange a consultation for further checks.

Dr. Gareth Hughes, consultant and subspecialty lead for interstitial lung disease at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There are more than one hundred conditions relating to interstitial lung disease that if we begin treatment early we can work to maintain a healthy lung function.

“It’s vital we identify these patients as early as possible to explore the range of treatment options that are now available, and these new monitoring options are an important tool in helping us to achieve that.

“Not only does remote monitoring empower patients to play an important role in their care, it also helps us to reduce the increasing demand on our outpatient clinics and diagnostic services and has the potential to transform how we deliver care using technology.”

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Interstitial lung disease refers to a group of more than 100 conditions that affect the lung tissues, which are sometimes termed pulmonary fibrosis.

Rebecca Worswick, sister and interstitial lung disease specialist nurse at the trust, added: “This 12-month pilot will help us to detect changes in a patient’s condition as soon as possible while allowing us to quickly intervene with treatment.

“If this project is successful it will allow us to roll it out more widely, reducing the number of hospital visits for our patients and increasing vital capacity in the health service.

“We are grateful to the Bolton Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group for their support with arranging funding and helping to deliver this vital initiative.”

The project has been funded by a grant from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust, with the equipment and software provided free of charge by the trust’s industrial partner, patientMpower.

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