Agenda item

The Committee received a briefing report from North East and North Cumbria ICB Primary Care Team that provided an update on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Rescue Pack availability from primary care providers (General Practice) across County Durham (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

Colin Stephenson, Strategic Head of Primary Care, North East and North Cumbria ICB was in attendance to present the briefing report.

Councillor Higgins welcomed the information within the report and stated that he hoped that all GP practices carry out the information that had been provided. He continued that the report stated that COPD was the second largest cause of emergency admissions into hospital and there was just under 1700 people admitted into hospital for the period July 2023 to June 2024 that was an average of 32 people per week. He indicated that probably more people were admitted into hospital in the winter period and his concern that he brought to the last meeting was that these emergency packs were not being offered via repeat prescription. He suggested that if a person can start the rescue pack immediately hopefully prevents people needing to be admitted into hospital. He was pleased to report that one of his residents who had reported this to him had now received her COPD rescue pack.

Councillor Hovvels indicated that it was a post code lottery across the County and stated that she found the report useful and thanked the Officer for the information and stated that they can now advise their constituents.

Resolved: That the report be noted.