The potential for patient-led COPD admission avoidance schemes.

Recent guidance on intermediate care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) highlights the invaluable role of ‘‘early assisted discharge’’ and ‘‘hospital at home’’ in improving patient care and reducing length of hospitalisation for exacerbations [1]. We would like to draw on our novel local experience to suggest a potentially useful addition to such services: namely, a largely patient-triggered ‘‘in-reach’’ service for selected COPD patients from the community.