Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in the Republic of Ireland affecting people of all ages and all socio-economic groups. Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of Asthma worldwide, and current estimates suggest that there are approximately 450,000 people with doctor-diagnosed asthma in Ireland (approx. 1 in 10 of population). The prevalence is even higher in children with about 21% of children affected. Asthma is often under-diagnosed and uncontrolled, creating a substantial burden of ill-health to individuals, their families and the economy.
Programme Vision
The vision of the National Clinical Programme for Asthma is that every child and every adult with asthma in Ireland should reach their maximal health and quality-of-life potential through the prevention, early detection and effective treatment of asthma.
The National Clinical Programme for Asthma has developed a Model of Care towards achieving this.
The aims of the programme are to:
- Maximise health and quality of life of people with asthma
- Prevent avoidable mortality due to asthma
The aims will be achieved through the following objectives:
Quality objectives:
All patients diagnosed with asthma are enrolled in a structured asthma programme that will address
- education about asthma, personal trigger factors and medication
- assessment of control
- inhaler device and technique
- smoking cessation / exposure to second hand smoke
Access objectives:
- Ensure all patients receive guideline concordant care - based upon level of control
- Maximise the proportion of patients with asthma whose asthma is controlled
Value objectives:
Reduce GP out of hours (OOH) visits due to asthma by 10% (approx. 5,000) over 3 years (from the point of introduction in that setting)
Reduce ED visits due to asthma by 10% (approx. 2,000) over 3 years
Reduce asthma inpatient bed days used by those with emergency admission for asthma by 5% by end of 2017
Reduce asthma inpatient bed days used by < 6 year olds by 10% reduction by end of 2017
Reduce asthma mortality by 90% over a 10 year period (2013-2023)
