Specialist centres continue to exceed targets

Specialist PH centres in the UK continue to improve, according to the results of the latest National Audit of Pulmonary Hypertension.

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Every year since 2008, the UK’s specialist pulmonary hypertension centres have been asked to provide information on what they do and what their outcomes are, to ensure high standards are maintained.

The ninth National Audit of Pulmonary Hypertension, based on data submitted between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018, shows even more targets are being met or exceeded.

The findings include:

• 96% of patients have a quality of life questionnaire recorded at least once a year (an 8% increase on 2017)
• 59% of patients referred to a specialist centre attended a consultation or were discharged within 30 days (a 7% increase on 2017)
• 96% of patients had a right heart catheter before being given drugs to treat PH (a 5% increase on 2017)
• 98% of patients had a WHO functional class and six-minute walk or shuttle exercise test recorded before being given drugs to treat PH (an 11% increase on last year)

Iain Armstrong, Chair of the PHA UK, said: “Again, we are seeing more improvement in even more areas – despite the many pressures facing the NHS. We have a network of specialist centres that make a big difference to people’s lives, and that’s something we should all be proud of. It’s vital that these services are protected.”

The PHA UK played an important role in setting up the National Audit of Pulmonary Hypertension by funding its first year in 2010. The audit is now funded via NHS Special Commissioning in England and managed by NHS Digital in Leeds.

NHS Digital have invited centres who have areas needing improvement to complete local action plans and share them with patients and the public.

The full annual report and local action plans can be found here