The NHS has launched a home monitoring trial for cystic fibrosis patients

Cystic fibrosis patients are classed as at extreme risk from the Covid-19 pandemic, and are following specific shielding advice.

The NHS at Home pilot aims to make people feel connected and supported while being able to stay at home. Some 4,000 patients aged six and over will be given a spirometer to measure their lung capacity, along with an app through which they can share information with their clinician.

Home-based spirometry has been hailed as ‘the most important intervention’ for cystic fibrosis patients by the CF National Network.

NHS England has accelerated the roll-out to help ensure people can stay safe at home during the pandemic, whilst at the same time ensuring that those whose condition worsens can get the right help fast.

Janet Allen, director of strategic innovation at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said giving 4,000 cystic fibrosis patients access to home spirometry was “great news”.

Allen said the trust is already running a parallel research programme, called Project Breathe, to “help understand whether measuring things like lung function, oxygen levels, activity and weight at home can reduce the number of hospital appointments for people with cystic fibrosis”.