Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

What does COPD Early Discharge Service mean to you?

The service provides care, information and support for patients with COPD in your own home instead of in hospital. Your condition will have been stabilised in hospital first. The service is provided by George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust.

Who will look after you?

You will be visited at home after your discharge from hospital by a Clinical Nurse Specialist. They will assess your condition and progress at home and will be available to answer any questions you may have.

You may also be visited by a Respiratory Physiotherapist if you require help/advice for airway clearance and breathlessness management.

Your GP will be informed of your discharge onto the service, but medical support will be provided by the Consultant at the hospital.

Who should you contact if you have any problems?

The COPD nurses are available Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm. Telephone No. 02476 15 3725.

Answerphone always available. Messages read throughout the day. However, if you have any urgent problems after 4:00pm or at weekends you must contact NHS 111 for assessment or attend A&E if necessary.

What will happen if you do not improve at home?

You will be visited regularly by the Clinical Nurse Specialist who will monitor your condition closely. If they feel that you are not improving, or that your symptoms are worsening, they will arrange for you to be re-assessed in hospital.

What next?

Once your condition has improved and you feel well again, the Clinical Nurse Specialist will discharge you from the service and assess you in COPD Nurse Led Clinic in 6 to 8 weeks’ time. They will inform your GP of this and arrange any follow up appointments.

What are the advantages for you of the COPD Early Discharge Service?

You will receive similar care and support as you would in hospital.

• In the comfort of your own home.
• Have less risk of infection from other patients.
• Any problems you have at home will be recognised and appropriately actioned.
• Your hospital stay will be shorter.

Useful Contacts:

Respiratory Early Discharge Telephone: 02476 15 3725

Email: GEHRespiratoryService@geh.nhs.uk

George Eliot Hospital is a smoke free environment. For help and advice to stop smoking you can call the national helpline on 0300 123 1044 or visit https://fitterfutures.everyonehealth.co.uk/stop-smoking-service/ ​​​​​​. You can also call the local telephone number for the Warwickshire service on 0333 005 0092 or Coventry service on 0800 112 3780.

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