Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has the highest rate of hospital admission in the OECD for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; the actions he is taking to reduce this very high level of hospital admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34046/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Clinical Care Programmes provide a national, strategic and co-ordinated approach to a wide range of clinical services. The programmes have three main objectives - to improve the quality of care, to improve access and to improve cost/value, effectiveness. The primary role is the development of models of care, guidelines and clinical pathways. In addition areas for process improvement are identified and direction provided to achieve these improvements. Currently there are 33 Clinical Programmes, one of which is the COPD Clinical Care Programme.

COPDis one of the commonest chronic diseases and is also one of the commonest reasons for admissions to hospital. The management of these patients by a structured programme of care including Outreach and Pulmonary Rehabilitation has been shown to reduce readmission rates and significantly reduce bed day consumption. The aims of the COPD Clinical Care Programme are to save 50 deaths a year from COPD, to reduce COPD admissions by 1,500 a year and to reduce readmission rates to 20% at 3 months. These aims are being achieved by decreasing morbidity and mortality through correct and early diagnosis, and by providing correct treatment based on best practice guidelines for treatment (self management, primary care and secondary or hospital care). In this regard, the Programme has developed a COPD Outreach Model of Care and a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Model of Care, and has also developed clinical guidelines which have been submitted to the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee which provides a framework for national endorsement of clinical guidelines and audit to optimise patient and service user care.