Bid success to lead to earlier access to COPD rehabilitation

People in Wakefield with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are set to benefit from earlier access to rehabilitation thanks to £200,000 of funding.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team, in collaboration with Wakefield Council’s Public Health Team, has been successful in two joint bids for Core20PLUS5 funding over the next four years. The bids were aimed at identifying any barriers to rehabilitation, whilst reducing health inequalities across the district.

Launched in 2021, Core20PLUS5 is NHS England’s approach to reducing health inequalities. The ‘Core20’ is the most deprived 20% of the population as identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The ‘PLUS’ includes people who don’t necessarily fall into this category but nonetheless experience poorer than average health access or outcomes, including ethnic minority communities, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals with multi-morbidities. The ‘5’ refers to five clinical areas that require specific and accelerated focus from the NHS. For the adult population, these are: maternity, severe mental illness, chronic respiratory disease, early cancer diagnosis, and hypertension.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s MY Therapy Service Lead, Graham Dobbs said: “Securing this funding will help us to reduce health inequalities and ensure earlier access to rehabilitation for people with COPD across the district, meaning improved quality of life with better outcomes and patient experience.”

Working with Aspire, who form part of the local authority, this project will provide extra resource within Wakefield Council’s leisure centres, plus access to a certified training programme for gym staff to enable them to provide earlier access to rehabilitation exercise for people with COPD within Wakefield.

Councillor Maureen Cummings, Cabinet Member for Communities, Poverty and Health, said: “This is fantastic news. Reducing health inequalities in our communities is a priority for the Council and we are glad to see progress being made with more resources available thanks to this new funding.

“Our gym staff already see lots of people and we can now extend our work, provide additional training and recruit one more staff member, to offer rehabilitation to more people at more venues.

“The team will work closely with the Mid Yorkshire Trust’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team to encourage more people to take up the offer.”

Jo Webster, Wakefield District Health & Care Partnership Accountable Officer, commented: “Tackling health inequalities is at the heart of what our health and care system is here to do. This dedicated funding will work towards this, offering those with COPD earlier access to rehabilitation within our communities and the skills to better manage their condition.”