People in Liverpool living with asthma and COPD will soon benefit from a new health programme developed by the NHS and innovation partners across the region.

Led by NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group), the team has secured £300,000 from the national Pathway Transformation Fund to improve how these conditions are diagnosed and treated.

Working together, the initiative will focus on helping people get the right care sooner, especially in areas where health needs are greatest.

The funding will support the rollout of enhanced diagnostic tools, training for primary care teams, and the development of care pathways to ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time. It will also help improve how services share information and work together across the local health system.

The programme will:

  • Improve access to breathing tests (spirometry) for earlier diagnosis
  • Train local doctors and nurses to deliver better care in GP practices
  • Use data more effectively to support treatment decisions
  • Make services more joined-up and easier to access for patients
  • Ensure fair access to care for everyone

Dr Justine Hadcroft, who is leading the project at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, said: “This funding gives us a real chance to improve care for people with breathing problems.

"By working closely with local communities and health teams, we want to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

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The project was developed by the Cheshire and Merseyside Respiratory Network, with support from Dr Jim Gardner, Chief Medical Officer at UHL Group, and other local partners including Liverpool Place, Central Liverpool PCN, and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.

Dr Paul Walker, a respiratory consultant at Aintree University Hospital, said: “Helping GPs and nurses feel confident in treating asthma and COPD is key.

"This project will give them the tools and support they need to provide great care now and in the future.”

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Rhiannon Clarke, Project Lead at Health Innovation North West Coast, added: “We’re proud to be part of this work. It builds on our experience in tackling lung conditions and will help us find better ways to care for people across the region.”

The programme is being delivered in partnership with Central Liverpool Primary Care Network, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Liverpool Place, NHS England North West Respiratory Clinical Delivery Network, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Health Innovation North West Coast.

Liverpool is one of nine areas in England to receive funding from the £2.61 million Pathway Transformation Fund, supported by NHS England and the Office for Life Sciences.