Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (PCRS-UK)

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COPD Resources Primary Care Respiratory Society UK

Introduction
Prevalence
Diagnosis
Templates
Practice Register
Practice Team
Guidelines
Spirometry
Patient Information
Referral Pathways
End of Life Care
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Supporting Information - Spirometry
  • Who in the team has been trained and is competent in performing spirometry?
  • Who in the team is trained and competent to interpret spirometry reports?
  • Is there a system in place to ensure that the machine is serviced and calibrated, and the readings verified?
  • Is there a system in place to ensure the machine is disinfected as per manufacturers and local trust guidelines?
Spirometry is an important test to confirm a diagnosis of COPD in conjunction with a careful clinical history and examination. In order to meet the NICE recommendations it is vital that robust policy and procedures are in place for access to diagnostic quality spirometry within your practice. The main factors to consider are the following recommendations from the NICE 2004 guidelines4:
  • ‘All healthcare professionals managing COPD should have access to spirometry and be competent in the interpretation of results’.
  • ‘Any healthcare worker who has undergone appropriate training and keeps his/her skills up to date can perform spirometry’
We recognise that not all training is the same but support the notion of well trained health care professionals who have maintained their knowledge and skills making robust clinical diagnoses using well maintained spirometry.

Education and training organisations in the UK:
The following organisations offer spirometry courses approved by the ARTP resulting in the award of the ARTP/BTS Certificate Spirometry courses are also available from:
  • Respiratory Education UK
  • Various spirometry manufacturers provide training but ideally these courses should be accredited by an appropriate body
Spirometry Standards and buying equipment:
  • The Primary Care Respiratory Society UK in association with the Association of Respiratory Technology & Physiology (ARTP) and Education for Health have published proposed standards for diagnostic spirometry in primary care7. Click here to access the standards
  • If a practice is considering purchasing a spirometer, a useful guide is the Centre for Evidence Based Purchasing Buyers' Guide - Spirometer : NHS Purchasing And Support Agency (PASA) 2009. Click here
References:
4. National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). National clinical guideline: Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults in primary and secondary care. Thorax 2004:59 (suppl.1) S1-232. Available www.nice.org.uk (Last accessed 24/8/2009)
7. Levy ML, Quanjer PH, Booker R, Cooper BG, Holmes S, Small I. Diagnostic Spirometry in Primary Care: Proposed standards for general practice compliant with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society recommendations. Prim Care Resp J 2009;18(3):130-147; Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2009.00054
This series of resources has been produced as a service to primary care by the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (PCRS-UK) and has been supported by an educational grant from Allen & Hanburys, AstraZeneca UK Ltd and Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd/Pfizer Ltd. The views expressed in the materials are not necessarily those of either the sponsors or the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (PCRS-UK). © PCRS-UK
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PCRS-UK: formerly the General Practice Airways Group (GPIAG)


Page updated on 25 October 2011 19:54

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