Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent)
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445. To ask the Minister for Health the elements of the national clinical programme for asthma, excluding the free general practitioner care for those under six years of age, that has been implemented since this Government came to office; the revised timetable for full implementation of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24817/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The HSE through its Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division has established the National Clinical Programme for Asthma (NCPA). The purpose of the National Clinical Programmes is to describe models of care and formulate guidelines, where necessary, which aim to improve quality access and value of clinical care. The NCPA also supports ongoing education for health professionals, patients and family/carers.

The Adult Emergency Asthma Guideline was published in January 2012 and is available on the HSE website at: .

A draft revised guideline is currently undergoing evaluation by the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee and is awaiting approval.

The Paediatric Emergency Asthma Guideline has been developed and is also available at: .

The NCPA also worked with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) in the development of "Asthma Control in General Practice" which is a guideline for managing a patient with Asthma in primary care. This document is available on the ICGP website at:.

This is due to be updated later in 2015.

A self-learning asthma E-Learning 6 modular theoretical programme based on the national evidenced based guidelines and developed by NCPA in conjunction with the Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI) is freely available on and for any healthcare professional who wishes to update their knowledge. This will enable healthcare professionals to underpin their skill sets with theory. There is also a similar programme available for GPs on the ICGP website. In addition, a practical workshop is also being delivered by the respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists for staff in primary and secondary care. This education programme will continue throughout 2015.

Up-to-date information is available for patients, their families and carers. These easily accessible patient asthma education supports have been implemented in conjunction with the NCPA's key stakeholder, the Asthma Society of Ireland, to assist guided self-management for this chronic condition. These are also jointly available on the HSE and ASI websites.

The NCPA has developed a National Model of Care for Asthma which details how physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals will work with engaged patients to make the clinical decisions most appropriate to their circumstances and to collaborate with specialist colleagues in providing a safe, seamless patient experience within the health system in Ireland. This is has been approved by the HSE leadership team and will be launched later this year. The National Clinical Programme for Asthma is committed to working with the HSE’s operational divisions in implementing this Model of Care. The under 6 contract for GPs that is currently being implemented for asthma in primary care is based on asthma management detailed in the Model of Care.

The Asthma Integrated Care Demonstrator Project in Primary Care has been a key focus of the NCPA throughout 2015. The Demonstrator Project aims to deliver Asthma management in the primary care setting. Care will be delivered by a community based Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory - Integrated Care). The project is funded through the HSE's Primary Care Division and is supported by the National Clinical Programme for Asthma, in conjunction with the HSE's Health & Wellbeing Division. This project aims to provide patient assessment with spirometry and a self-management programme and will be established and supported at Primary Care level. The self-management programme will include disease specific education, including appropriate use of medication, avoidance of risk factor exposure and detection of deterioration.

As outlined above, the components of the programme are being implemented on an ongoing basis. The various guidelines are being revised from time to time in line with international best practice. When the Model of Care is launched later this year, it will be up to the relevant operational divisions within the HSE to implement the programme.