PCRS Position Statement: Short-term Respiratory Admissions

The Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) recognises that short-term respiratory admissions can be reduced but not always entirely avoided. These admissions occur when patients require hospital-based stabilisation, diagnosis or treatment which is not otherwise available to them in primary care. In line with the 10-Year health plan for England: Fit for the future, PCRS supports patient care in the community and care delivered closer to home. To this end, PCRS encourages the use of services such as hot clinics, virtual wards and integrated care services to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

Prevention of further acute episodes is key following initial admission. This can be achieved through timely respiratory review delivered by appropriately trained professionals in line with the PCRS Fit to Care Standards. Every respiratory review should produce a personalised self-management plan including patient-centred education, review of vaccination status, smoking cessation support, medication optimisation and review of other co-morbidities as well as signposting for mental health and social support for themselves and carers.

It is well known that both clinician and patient anxiety can play a pivotal role in the decision to admit. Education, local support and involvement of specialist services are therefore key to improving quality of admissions and improving the likelihood of successful care at home. In addition, appropriate access to social care is protective against hospital admissions which could otherwise be avoided.