RAPID Supported Rescue packs post-discharge in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: An open-label multicentre randomised controlled trial

Every year, thousands of people with COPD are discharged from hospital after a severe flare-up, only to be readmitted within 90 days. This trial tests whether giving them a “rescue pack” of antibiotics and steroids—along with clear instructions and twice-weekly phone or text support—can cut that rate of return. The problem is straightforward: the period immediately after a COPD exacerbation is dangerously unstable. Patients often deteriorate at home, unsure when to seek help or start medication. Current practice leaves them to manage this alone, and hospital readmissions are common, costly, and distressing. If the rescue pack strategy works, it could change how the NHS manages post-discharge care for COPD. Instead of a passive handover, patients would have a concrete action plan and regular check-ins. This could reduce pressure on hospital beds, lower healthcare costs, and give patients more confidence to manage their own condition at home. The trial is an open-label, multicentre randomised controlled trial—a practical test of a simple intervention that, if effective, could be rolled out widely without major new infrastructure.