We are working with the three Integrated Care Systems ( ICS ) in our region to support their population health management approach . This will help drive improvements in asthma care outcomes and create better access to asthma care for those in deprived communities .
The key to treating asthma is to control the airway inflammation using inhalers that contain a steroid . This kind of inhaler is often called a ‘ preventer ’ and needs to be taken every day . Many people with asthma also have a ‘ blue ’ inhaler that they use as a ‘ reliever ’. These inhalers relax the muscle around the airways in the lung , temporarily reducing symptoms . Unfortunately , these blue inhalers ( known as SABAs ) do not treat the inflammation , they only provide short term benefit . Hull is a region with some of the highest SABA inhaler use in the country .
In a bid to try and manage this and improve the health of asthma patients within the Hull region , Dr Michael Crooks ( Respiratory Consultant and Senior Lecturer ) and colleagues at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust , Hull York Medical School and Hull Clinical
24 Transforming Lives Through Innovation
Commissioning Group ( CCG ), started working in collaboration with a team at AstraZeneca . Together they worked with asthma clinicians and patients using experience-based co-design methodology to develop a programme to promote good quality asthma care through implementation of local asthma guidelines . At the same time , the team have been undertaking a rigorous evaluation and generating real-world evidence to ensure that lessons are learned , and good practice is shared .
What they came up with is an award-winning programme called SENTINEL , to support and empower clinicians and patients to improve asthma care . This programme has the following five components : healthcare professional education , implementation of ‘ gold standard ’ prescribing practices , targeted reviews for asthma patients who are over-using SABA , patient education and support , and real-time data monitoring and reporting of asthma care metrics .
“
I genuinely think that the AHSN ’ s involvement has been great for
SENTINEL and will continue to be . The reach and impact that the webinars had , the HSJ awards and the potential to have SENTINEL adopted as a Rapid Uptake Product wouldn ’ t be possible without their involvement . I think that supporting adoption within regions has been really valuable because one of the key drivers to sustained change is persistent and consistent messaging , and reaching as many people across the care pathway as possible . I think the partnership approach really has added value .”
Dr Michael Crooks , Respiratory Consultant and Senior
Lecturer , Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust and Hull York Medical School