How Do We Find the Missing Millions? A Pharmacist Perspective

In the UK, there are estimated to be 1.4 million people with a diagnosis of COPD.¹ As of 2023/24, 1.17 million of these individuals live in England.² Each year around 30,000 people in the UK die from COPD.¹

Despite its prevalence, many individuals have a delayed diagnosis or are misdiagnosed. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the last decade has stated that around 2 million individuals with COPD are undiagnosed.^1,3

Lead PCN Pharmacist Nipa Patel presents on the burden of COPD including symptom burden, the impact on society and the NHS. She goes on to discuss delayed diagnosis, unequal care, missed opportunities and the importance of prioritising earlier diagnosis for patients.

She ends her presentation by focusing on the practicalities in identifying potential COPD patients; the benefits of questionnaires, utilising GP clinical systems, clinician-patient relationship and shares key points about the wants and needs of people living with COPD.

Please also consider watching the on-demand video ‘How Do We Find the Missing Millions? A Consultant Perspective’ by Dr Shashank Sharma who presents on how integrating secondary care and primary care can support the optimisation of COPD diagnosis for patients.

References

1. Asthma and Lung UK. COPD in the UK: Delayed diagnosis and unequal care. Executive Summary. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-03/delayed-diagnosis-unequal-care-executive-summary.pdf

2. Department of Health & Social Care. Fingertips Public Health profiles: COPD in England. 2024. https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/  3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). 2016. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults. NICE. Accessed here (August 2022)

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• Nipa Patel

  Lead PCN Pharmacist

  Read biography
  Nipa Patel

  Lead PCN Pharmacist Surrey

  Role and Location
  Nipa Patel is a Lead PCN pharmacist for SASSE2 & 3 in Surrey.

  Education
  She is an advanced clinical pharmacist with experience in PCT, CCG, general practice, secondary care, community and now PCNs. She undertakes clinics for respiratory conditions, anticoagulation, osteoporosis, heart failure, hypertension and more. Over the last few years Nipa has been working at a more strategic level and introducing pharmacists into general practice. In May 2023 she won the Excellence in General Practice award at the National Clinical Pharmacy Congress.

  Research
  She has also presented at BMJ Masterclass, Clinical Pharmacy Congress and Pharmacy Show and i2i Network workshops as well as taught on postgraduate modules at university.