Among its aims was to prevent or delay the onset of COPD, support patients across the continuum of care, and improve the delivery of care. “So initially, when this ECC [enhanced community care] was funded, there were 444.5 posts allocated to the respiratory integrated care programme. “No site has been fully staffed, so no site has been able to deliver on the full vision of COPD care. “In particular, they had no access to GP spirometry, no consultant oversight, and no COPD outreach team.”This variability has allowed clinicians to evaluate the ECC’s impact on COPD outcomes. The 90-day COPD readmission rates are reducing at complete ECC sites, with 1,064 potential admissions saved at completed ECC sites as of 2024.

Source: Irish Independent December 22, 2025 14:59 UTC