Enhanced Emergency Assessment Pathways for Asthma and COPD
Background
The latest NRAP State of the Nation report found that early emergency care for patients with asthma and COPD shows regional variation and in several areas has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. NRAP recommended that BTS should lead the development of a standardised acute care bundle to address this.
In response to this, BTS has worked in partnership with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM), NRAP clinical leads and a multi-disciplinary group of respiratory specialists to develop pathways to support the rapid assessment and treatment of patients presenting to hospital with an exacerbation of asthma or COPD.
Consultation
We are now inviting your feedback on the draft assessment pathways.
Consultation documents include the main report covering both pathways, alongside separate appendices detailing the proposed asthma and COPD pathways.
Please submit your comments using the consultation response form and return it to miguel.souto@brit-thoracic.org.uk by 2 September 2026.
Consultation documents
- Enhanced Emergency Assessment Pathways in Asthma and COPD - Main report outlining the proposed multidisciplinary pathway for the rapid assessment and treatment of patients presenting to hospital with an asthma or COPD exacerbation
- Appendix 1: Asthma Emergency Assessment Pathway
- Appendix 2: COPD Emergency Assessment Pathway
- Consultation response form: Enhanced Emergency Assessment Pathways in Asthma and COPD - Submit your feedback on the proposed pathways.
