Respiratory Transformation Partnership (RTP) Launch Webinar - Attendance Report
Emma Allan, ARNS Research and Education Sub Committee
I attended the Respiratory Transformation Partnership (RTP) Launch webinar in April. The RTP was set up to change asthma and COPD pathways with the aim to have a model of care that connects primary and secondary care.
There are four workstreams aimed at improving asthma and COPD management with the following aims; improve diagnosis, provide better personalised care, reduce hospital admissions and ultimately bed days.
It was a thoroughly interesting talk, and inspiring to hear from leading experts in the UK about ways in which they are aiming to improve time to diagnosis, management and making care equitable. The speakers discussed plans to connect primary and community care with respiratory specialists. Importantly, they mentioned how this wasn’t just about connecting primary care to medical respiratory specialists but with respiratory nurse specialists, respiratory physiotherapists and the wider MDT.
What really struck me was the dedication to establish new hubs as a one stop shop for diagnosis and management and to ensure that they will be sustainable i.e. not just a pilot. The RTP wants to reduce health inequalities and target areas underserved. Finally, they want us to be able to move into an era in respiratory where management is proactive rather than reactive. I left with a sense of excitement, and also hope that patients will have a smoother journey to diagnosis and access to evidence-based care that can be personalised wherever they are in the country.
by Emma Allan, ARNS Research and Education Sub Committee