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health friendly air™ management recently attended the launch of the Asthma Society’s new initiative to facilitate the implementation of best practice asthma guidelines in Irish healthcare. The launch by Minister Mary Harney in the Royal College of Physicians has been developed by the Asthma Society of Ireland to improve asthma management in Ireland and it is being implemented in partnership with the Dept of Health and Children (DOHC) and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The project is modelled on the Finnish Asthma Programme which demonstrated that it is possible to deliver better healthcare outcomes for asthma with a reduction in healthcare costs.

The project will initially involve approximately 25 primary care sites nationwide to focus on bringing evidence-based asthma guidelines into real-life practice. Participating healthcare professionals – GPs, practice nurses and community pharmacists – will complete both on-line and practical education modules based on current international best practice. Following the initial demonstration project which will reach up to 5,000 asthma patients, the hope is for it to be rolled out on a national level, in line with the roll out of the Primary Care Strategy. The demonstration project has been developed to mirror the principles of the Dept. of Health Policy Framework for the Management of Chronic Disease.

health friendly air welcome and support the introduction of this initiative to improve asthma management in Ireland and wish the Asthma Society every success.