Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme (InHIP): Respiratory

The InHIP respiratory project in partnership with South London ICBs will be delivered between October 2022 – March 2024.  The focus is on providing local, objective diagnostics for people with suspected asthma or experiencing breathing difficulties. Particularly, focusing on populations living in areas of high deprivation in Sutton, Merton and Bromley.

People from the most deprived 20% of the population, and those from marginalised groups (Core20PLUS in NHS England’s Core20PLUS5 framework), are disproportionately more likely to experience breathing difficulties like asthma. Part of the puzzle in addressing this inequity is to ensure that patients with asthma are correctly diagnosed and appropriately treated, which relies on quality assured, objective diagnostics like Spirometry and FeNO (Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide) testing, and the expertise of specialist services in hospitals, whilst removing some of the barriers to access.

Respiratory diagnostic hubs bring these elements together and offer the service within the primary care network footprint. The hubs also aim to model true collaboration between different parts of the system, which benefits the Core20PLUS populations in Bromley, Merton, and Sutton through the provision of high-quality care for people living with asthma closer to home.