Breathing Innovation into Lung Health, Wellness & Wealth

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News Bulletin

Discover ECO4: Transforming Homes for a Sustainable Future

ECO4 (Energy Companies Obligation version 4) is the UK Government backed retrofit programme to improve the energy efficiency of domestic homes in the UK. It is fully funded from profits of the major energy companies, has no cost for the home owner or occupier and can make a range of heating and insulation interventions to improve the home environment and reduce energy bills.

About Us

We believe that in RIW we have the opportunity to translate a good idea into products and approaches that will improve respiratory health and well-being in Wales and beyond.

Our vision is to be a world leading gateway for respiratory innovation.

Our mission is to “Collaborate to Innovate” bringing together NHS, Academia and Industry to accelerate and translate respiratory innovation.

Our Services:

Advisory and Consultancy to organisations seeking expertise as they develop or enhance respiratory products and treatments;
Education and Training to organisations and individuals seeking real world insights to benefit their practice and understanding;
Undertaking our own Research and collaborating with other organisations and academics for maximum impact.

Projects

Oriel3D - NHS and Academic portal

27th September 2021

Oriel3D – Dedicated Portal for NHS and Academic 3D printing A collaborative project between Respiratory Innovation Wales and the Wales Institute of Digital Information (WIDI)…

ARIA-TRE - Voice pattern recognition

23rd September 2021

If you would like to find out more about Aria-Tre you can read about it in the following downloads: Aria-Tre Yellow Book The Aria-Tre yellow…

COVID-19 rapid manufacturing challenge

23rd September 2021

COVID-19 rapid manufacturing challenge RIW worked with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the device manufacturer, CR Clarke Ltd, to design, arrange, manage and report…

New Community Engagement Panel

Dr Philip Webb at the NHS Estates conference

RIW at the National NHS Estates Conference

Professor Kier Lewis is the Welsh Lead on ground-breaking study

News: NextGen Living

RIW on the Healthy Homes Bill at the House of Lords

Design Thinking podcast with Dr. Philip Webb

Our Team

Meet our people

Our team of experienced technical staff, consultants and affiliates have extensive knowledge and access within the local and greater health community.

Respiratory Statistics

Overall deaths in Wales - 1 in 7 is linked to respiratory disease

14.28%

Asthma sufferers in Wales - Over 314,00 people

10%

Total UK research expenditure allocated to respitatory health

Finding ways to prevent respiratory disease, to manage and treat it more effectively, would bring about substantial benefits to health outcomes and concomitantly reduce a considerable economic burden. Additionally, focusing on economic development opportunities for those looking to innovate and develop novel and effective diagnostics, preventative devices, and better disease management strategies and treatments would make an impact.

It is estimated that the number of COPD patients in Wales, like the rest of the UK, is significantly under reported.

Multiple areas within the counties of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Wrexham and Flintshire have a relative risk for COPD that is significantly higher than the UK average.

A higher percentage of patients in Wales are being treated for asthma (6.9%) than in other parts of the UK.

People living in areas of high deprivation are more likely to be receiving treatment for respiratory conditions than elsewhere in Wales.

Wales has a smoking prevalence of 19% and a prevalence of overweight and obese adults of 59%.

The total costs of all respiratory illness were estimated to be £165 billion including intangible costs. Excluding intangible costs proves an estimated total cost of £11.1 billion, representing 0.6% of UK GDP in 2014.

There are 49,000 unplanned hospital admissions each year for respiratory conditions in Wales with the majority being emergency admissions. The total cost of inpatient admissions in Wales in 2013/14 for just COPD and asthma amounted to over £250 million.

The total cost for prescribing for respiratory medicine in NHS Wales primary care from July 2013–June 2014 was £85.4 million. These costs relate to 5,531,434 items prescribed. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone cost £55.3 million followed by bronchodilators at £23.6 million.

Despite the above costs, the ratio of research funding to costs for respiratory disease compared to other diseases is disappointingly low. Only 1.68% of total UK research expenditure is allocated to the respiratory health category.