Beyond a patient-initiated helpline: targeting nurse support at a UK ILD Centre

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Rising demand for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) services, driven by expanded antifibrotic (AF) prescribing, led to greater reliance on engagement via helpline. The Oxford ILD service received 1350 patient requests for nurse support in 2023. The effectiveness of this approach in prioritising care remains unclear. <bold>Aim:</bold> Explore whether patients with severe lung function impairment who experience deterioration initiate more frequent contact. Investigate correlation between helpline use and emergency presentations. Evaluate risk stratification as a potential means to target nurse support. <bold>Methodology:</bold> A retrospective study analysed 71 patients starting AF therapy with a TLco <50% over 1 year. Helpline use and emergency presentations were assessed in relation to disease trajectory based on ILD service clinical records. <bold>Results:</bold> Frequency of helpline use was uniformly distributed with no correlation to disease trajectory. Patients with stable TLco had least emergency attendance; in patients who deteriorated, emergency attendance was highest for those with least nurse contact. This pattern intensified in those who died within a year. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Increased ILD referrals resulted in greater reliance on helpline use to access nurse support. This reactive model of engagement results in a relatively uniform distribution of support regardless of disease trajectory. Resource is now proactively targetted within this higher risk group. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4146/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>