NHS Direct launches asthma support programme

NHS Direct is to launch a telephone review and follow-up programme for all patients who have been prescribed Symbicort Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) by their GP – a new way to treat asthma.

The national telephone and online advice service is working with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to provide the patient support programme, which will monitor patients by telephone to ensure that they fully understand their new asthma treatment regime and that they are using the correct dose. 

Patients will be referred to the service by their GP. If patients are found to be over or under-using their inhaler, experiencing inappropriate levels of symptoms or any new side effects, they will be referred back, by the health advisor, to their GP for a face-to-face consultation.

Once a patient has chosen to use the support programme, his or her details will be passed on to NHS Direct by the GP practice. Health advisors will then contact each patient within seven days.

The programme offers patients reassurance and support when starting this new approach to treating their asthma but it is also convenient. All information shared with a NHS Direct healthcare advisor remains confidential and is only shared with his or her GP.

During the initial phone call, the NHS Direct healthcare advisor will carry out a review of the patient’s symptoms and medication use using a structured questionnaire. Subsequently patients will be monitored by telephone every six to 12 months to ensure that they fully understand their new treatment and are using it correctly. Following each review, a report will be sent back to their GP.

Anne Joshua, associate director of Pharmacy at NHS Direct, said: “Our involvement in this programme forms part of our strategy to support people to manage their long-term conditions at home using telephone based care management systems – and medicines play a key role in managing long-term illnesses.

Joshua added: “NHS Direct is keen to run similar patient support programmes with other pharmaceutical companies.”

Steve Littler, NHS Direct nurse manager (asthma team) added: “We are delighted to be working with AstraZeneca. The team’s knowledge and experience gained from working with asthma patients over the years will enable us to provide a quality and safe service for both the GP practices and their patients.”