The Ulster Hospital has become the first hospital in the United Kingdom to introduce an innovative new treatment offering fresh hope to people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
The breakthrough medication, Dupilumab, is given by injection and works by targeting the inflammation that drives COPD flare-ups. By calming specific immune cells that contribute to inflammation in the lungs, the treatment aims to reduce severe exacerbations, helping patients stay healthier and reducing the likelihood of hospital admissions.
Patients receive their first injection under the guidance of a trained healthcare professional before learning how to self-administer the medication at home every fortnight, giving them greater independence while remaining fully supported by their clinical team.
Downpatrick patient Samuel, who has lived with COPD for several years, is among the first to benefit from the treatment.
Samuel said, “Anything that eases my condition is a benefit to me. It is great to be able to do it at home and I know I have the back up and support of the hospital if I need it, with just a phone call.
“The staff at the Downe Hospital have been so helpful. This is only my first dose of the medicine and if it works for me, it will be very, very good.”
South Eastern Trust Consultant Respiratory Physician, Dr Richard Hewitt said, “COPD is an incredibly common condition and we see a lot of people in hospital with it. We know patients with COPD often experience exacerbations in their condition, were their symptoms get worse due to inflammation in their lungs. It is good to have new treatment options and the Ulster Hospital is the first in the United Kingdom to use this medication with a COPD patient.”
Dr Hewitt continued, “This treatment is designed to reduce inflammation in the lungs and by reducing inflammation, reduces the risk of a patient requiring hospital treatment. Our hope is that patients who have a good response to this treatment will need less admission to hospital, antibiotics and steroids.”