Alan Smith

Asthma and Lung UK and Sanofi are committed to supporting healthcare professionals in providing the highest quality care for COPD patients. Through education, collaboration, and advocacy, we aim to equip clinicians with the tools they need to optimize patient outcomes. Our ambition is for people to #BreatheEqual, to see improvements in the recognition, diagnosis and quality of care for those suffering with respiratory conditions, regardless of location and socio-economic status. See our mission statement here: https://lnkd.in/eVBAsVpc Asthma + Lung UK (asthmaandlung.org.uk)

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Managing Barrett’s Oesophagus: Insights from Our Patient Survey 🍽️ During our recent patient webinar, HCUK Clinical Trustee Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald and colleagues shared findings from a patient survey regarding the key diet and lifestyle strategies patients use for managing Barrett's oesophagus: ✅ Eat small, regular meals  ✅ Chew sugar free gum after a meal  ✅ Alcohol in moderation  ✅ Know your triggers 💡 They also shared practical strategies for better symptom control, read more in our latest blog post⬇️  https://lnkd.in/eq77Kynr #BarrettsOesophagus #DietTips #Heartburn #PatientCare #SymptomManagement #HeartburnCancerUK

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I agree with the following piece from Ken Getz, in the Reuters white paper, Pharma and Future: Powered by Partnership and Patient Experience, addressing the challenges of measuring impact and demonstrating value of patient engagement.  “Currently, not every function is as committed to supporting patient engaged drug development.” There are two clear challenges. One is the validity of current measurements and whether organizations are fully to committed to implementing and executing truly patient engaged activity. Two is the extent to which there is broad-based organizational preparedness and readiness to fully embrace patient-first approaches. “When you look at any transformative innovation, we do not do a good job of change management,” he says. Among the limitations are a lack of training and transparent, visible support for senior management. --- As I have stated earlier, I believe that in order to truly succeed with patient engagement in the pharmaceutical industry, the next challenges will be to develop standard processes for patient engagement, ensuring these processes are integrated into as many divisions and departments within the organisation as possible, and ensuring to collect and present the ROI data on the patient engagement activities. #clinicaltrials #patientengagement

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Transforming HIV Treatment for 1 Million Patients A national public health initiative for HIV treatment was able to manage over 1 million patients while achieving 100% operational visibility across 500 centres with Zelthy. Read the full case here: https://lnkd.in/eUfmev3p #PublicHealth #HealthcareIT #EHR #DigitalTransformation #HealthcareSolutions #HealthcareInnovation #Zelthy

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In the UK there aren’t enough rheumatology consultant posts to meet the level of care recommended by NICE. Please support out campaign to grow the rheumatology workforce so we can ensure timely specialist care and treatment, and reduce job burnout for staff. Take action here: https://bit.ly/4e7gvVk #Rheumatology #Healthcare #WorkforceDevelopment #Election2024 #PatientCare #SupportOurNHS

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We were so encouraged by the feedback from those we reached with our You, Me & COPD roadshow last year that we have brought it back for 2024.     So, why is this so important to me?    ● 1.4 million people in UK are living with COPD – it is one of the most common long-term conditions but disease control is often poor, leading to preventable deaths as well as impacting quality of life for patients and avoidable costs to the NHS and economy. When compared to other major health conditions, improvements in patient outcomes for lung conditions have been much slower. For example, in cardiovascular disease, avoidable mortality has improved by 58% over the last 20 years, however for lung conditions, it has improved by 14%.    ● Around 2 million more people in the UK are thought to have COPD, but are undiagnosed – there are big challenges around ensuring people understand what COPD is, what symptoms to look out for, and accessing timely diagnosis and care. For those patients that do receive a diagnosis, one in four waited five years and nearly one in eight more than ten years.    ● There is a health equity gap - people living in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to have an emergency respiratory hospital admission compared to those living in the least deprived areas.    ● The COPD taboo – as the condition is often linked with smoking, patients can feel judged or underserving of support.    Our You, Me & COPD roadshow aims to bring vital information to people living with COPD, or those who have friends or family who may be facing the condition.     Chiesi is committed to supporting all people affected by COPD and advocating for change to improve disease outcomes for those living with the condition.     UK-CHI-2400587 | July 2024  

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A new drug has been added to the Innovative Medicines Fund in England after a long journey. Interim funding will make Pfizer’s Oxbryta (voxelotor) immediately available as a second-line therapy to up to 4,000 people with sickle cell disease (SCD).   NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said: “By improving the quality of life and reducing the need for hospital care, this new treatment option also has the potential to free up doctors, nurses and other clinicians to better support other patients, so we are acting fast to get it to the frontline immediately through our Innovative Medicines Fund.”   The route to reimbursement has, however, been far from straightforward. The first patients were treated through the Early Access to Medicines Scheme. Marketing authorisation was granted in July 2022. In July 2023, however, NICE did not recommend the medicine’s use in the NHS because of insufficient evidence of cost-effectiveness. In December 2023, an appeal by Pfizer and the Sickle Cell Society recognised that the institute had breached its duties under the Equality Act 2010 by failing to recognise barriers to access and/or take into account health inequalities for patients with SCD. Therefore, “the committee should consider whether there are additional steps it could take to make reasonable adjustments for the substantial disadvantage identified for people with sickle disease.”   In April 2024, NICE recommended voxelotor subject to a commercial arrangement. The committee noted that “the NICE health technology evaluations manual states that consideration of the cost-effectiveness of a technology is necessary but is not the only basis for decision making. The committee was keen to be flexible, taking into consideration the significant unmet need for effective treatments in #SCD, and NICE’s aim of reducing health inequalities … To address health inequalities, it concluded it would accept a higher cost-effectiveness estimate for decision making than it otherwise would have done, despite the considerable unresolved uncertainty. But it noted that departing from NICE’s usual range needs to be done with caution, because it displaces funding from what may be more cost-effective treatments elsewhere in the NHS, with an overall net loss of health gain to the population.”   The committee applied flexibility by: • Accepting greater uncertainty around clinical effectiveness estimates • Accepting a higher cost-effectiveness estimate than it otherwise would have done • Considering potential uncaptured benefits.   Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation at #NICE, said: “Throughout our appraisal of voxelotor the appraisal committee has always considered that it has the potential to address the need for effective treatments for sickle cell disease, as well as address NICE’s aim of reducing health inequalities.”   With access coming nearly two years after marketing authorisation, however, it has certainly not been an easy journey. #IMF #sicklecelldisease #voxelotor

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In 2019, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) announced “the most fundamental change in asthma management in 30 years”. Today, the new NICE, BTS, SIGN joint guideline for asthma diagnosis, monitoring and management, represents a significant step forward for asthma care in the UK. By establishing a single-track treatment pathway in new asthma patients and strongly recommending that short-acting beta agonist (SABA) inhalers are not prescribed alone, this guideline sets the foundation for a paradigm change in patient care. But there is more work to do to translate this guideline into clinical practice. We have been partnering with sites across the UK to deliver the SENTINEL programme, co-developed with Hull York Medical School and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This programme aims to improve outcomes in adult asthma patients by conducting patient reviews, identifying and addressing over-reliance on reliever inhalers and supporting healthcare professional education. Now being rolled out in over 300 primary care networks, federations and health boards,  this offers a bluepint for how we can work together to help implement this new guideline and improve patient outcomes. #asthma #guidelinedirectedtherapy #transformingcare

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It's so lovely to get feedback like this after a Global cross-functional launch planning workshop! Whether you are a National, Regional or Global team in a large or small organisation, we can help you map out everything that you need to do for launches from 'Self Care' right through to Rare Disease. (Link to book an exploratory call is in the comments) #lovewhatyoudo #launchexcellence #launchplanning #launchexecution #projectmanagement

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Thank you Nick McNally, Liz Pusey and UKRD for the opportunity to reflect on what's changed, what hasn't and what still needs to happen following my Clinical Trials Review in May 2023. The good news is that we've turned the corner. MHRA performance is radically improved and commercial trial recruitment numbers are significantally higher. We've got the first clinical trial delivery accelerators off the ground, in dementia and cancer vaccines, and it feels like this is a policy area that the government - and any future government - is determined to improve. The biggest challenge is still at site level. It's far too costly, bureaucratic and time-consuming to set up trials in the NHS, especially in hospitals, and we're not making the most of primary care. Solving this requires many things, all set out in the Review, but a good starting point would be total transparency of performance and income data for clinical trials at all levels - hospital, trust, ICB, health board, region and nation. As the saying goes, you don't value what you don't count. Change also requires leadership. The NHS could be the world's leading platform for health R&D. We have the science, the universities, the data, the workforce, the research charities, world-renowned KOLs, you name it. Whoever is Secretary of State (or the CEO of the NHS) after the election, let's make sure this is top of their list.

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A new initiative in Leeds helps to identify lung cancer symptoms early - EGFR Positive Lung Cancer UK West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Community Pharmacy West Yorkshire (CPWY) #Cancer #Pharmacy #EGFR #LungCancer #NHSTrust #OncoDaily #Oncology

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World Asthma Day marks an important opportunity to acknowledge the urgent unmet need in severe asthma, a distinct and frequently underestimated condition presenting unique challenges to quality of life.    Patients often face a long and difficult journey from diagnosis to management. AstraZeneca is calling for policy reform, which supports severe asthma patients and addresses some of the barriers they currently face moving from primary through to secondary care. Watch the full video and find out more! #WorldAsthmaDay

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Liver cancer is responsible for more than 5,800 deaths each year in the UK – roughly 16 every day. At AstraZeneca UK our bold ambition is to eliminate cancer. We believe we can achieve this by working together with like-minded organisations. This is essential to advancing research, improving equitable access to medicines, and supporting the transformation of care pathways in a way that improves outcomes for patients in the UK. This #LiverCancerAwarenessMonth we are shining a light on a disease which has unacceptably low survival rates in the UK. Liver cancer often goes undetected in the early stages which is why we are catalysing changes in the development of medicine to transform what it means to live with cancer in the UK today, and in the future. Visit https://livercanceruk.org to learn more.

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🌍 World Diabetes Day: Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Patient-Centred Care This #WorldDiabetesDay, Akeso stands alongside healthcare professionals and communities dedicated to reducing the impact of diabetes. With over 5.6 million people in the UK affected and rates continuing to rise, innovative approaches are more vital than ever. New technologies, such as Continuous Glucose Monitoring and insulin pumps, are transforming the management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. These advancements pave the way for the automated artificial pancreas, a promising step towards better glucose regulation and improved quality of life for those with Type 1 Diabetes. Preventing Type 2 Diabetes also calls for action at a population level to address lifestyle factors. Diabetes UK recently identified five key areas for the Autumn Budget 2024 to focus on, including policy changes such as targeted sugar and fat taxes to influence supermarket buying practices. Additionally, a recent University of York study showed that around £6.2 billion is spent annually on treating preventable complications of diabetes, underscoring the importance of early detection and prevention initiatives like the NHS Diabetes Prevention Program. At Akeso, we’re committed to supporting healthcare systems in adopting these advancements to empower patients and reduce health disparities. Together, let’s make strides in diabetes care and prevention for a healthier future. 💙 #TeamAkeso #WorldDiabetesDay #Prevention #T1DM #T2DM #CGM

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Care for lupus patients is evolving, with innovation accelerating in recent years. At AstraZeneca, we’re working closely with experts such as Dr Ian Bruce and Dr Julia Weinmann-Menke, who recently shared their insightful opinions on the following in an EMJ article: • Current state of SLE care • Recent updates to clinical recommendations elevating earlier intervention and steroid-tapering • Achieving remission as a key care goal Read this interesting piece here: https://bit.ly/4hl8yNM #MakeLupusVisible #TransformLupus

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Do you test for hepatitis C on a regular basis? If so, make sure to participate in the unlinked anonymous monitoring surveys, ran by UKHSA. These surveys aim to monitor the prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV infections, as well as associated risk and protective behaviours among people who inject drugs (PWID). You can read the latest UKHSA survey report here - https://orlo.uk/wmwON

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Up front & free to read in our Sept issue #editorspicks: Safety and effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in a UK population with type 2 diabetes and aged over 70 years: an instrumental variable approach tinyurl.com/p6pvhvb8

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Another candidate success story We love hearing success stories like this one from the brilliant Ruth Ajayi, who is currently an Associate Board Member for the Professional Standards Authority, the Lay Chair, for the Advisory Appointment Committee at Barts Health NHS Trust and the Chair, for the Genomics Medicines Services People Forum for NHS England. “Dynamic Boards has been a great help in my transition into a Non-Executive Director (NED) career. The wealth of resources, especially the YouTube channel and blogs, provided valuable guidance when I felt overwhelmed by the information available online. These resources reassured me that I had the necessary skills and experience to apply for NED roles, and I greatly appreciate that they are offered free of charge. Through Dynamic Boards, I have applied for several roles and was able to secure my first NED position via their job board. I often signpost people to Dynamic Boards who are starting out on their journey to becoming a NED, as it is an excellent starting point. The NED Community has also been very helpful. The blogs guided me in drafting my first NED CV and cover letter, and the community itself offers support and insights from people with diverse experiences. The networking events are particularly useful for expanding connections across the country, which is helping me grow as a NED both personally and professionally.” There are lots of people out there, like Ruth, that would make great NEDs but are put off by the invite-only groups and job sites that charge candidates to view roles, which are traditionally associated with the Non-Executive community. At Dynamic Boards, we want to ensure that everyone with the right skills, experience and perspectives have an equal opportunity at accessing Non-Executive roles across the UK, regardless of their background or contacts. This is why all of our services for candidates are free. We want to inspire those who might previously had not considered NED work before and encourage those in existing Non-Exec roles to be more thoughtful and effective board members. Learn more about Dynamic Boards here: https://lnkd.in/ev_DMeEC #nonexecutivedirectors #neds #dynamicboards #ruthajayi #boardroles #boardrecruitment #nedcareer #candidatefeedback

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