Clare Cook Physiotherapist, Clinical Lead of a community respiratory team in Bristol, member of PCRS Executive Committee and Chair of the PCRS Respiratory Leadership Group in conversation with Dr Elaine Bevan-Smith Associate COPD Specialist South West of England Academic Health Science Network an

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been included as a key intervention in the NHS Long Term Plan. However the PR audit1 showed that only 62% of people referred go on to complete the course.

An estimated 1.2 million people are living with COPD in the UK1 and research suggests that this number is growing (BLF 2020).

In this summary document Dr Noel Baxter describes tobacco dependency as a long term relapsing condition that usually starts in childhood.  In the document he outlines simple steps you can take to support patients to quit including Very Brief Advce (VBA) and he outlines the treatments availab

This short FAQ helps to answer some of your questions regarding spirometry in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic.  For further information please visit the ARTP website.

What you need to know about flu vaccination In this article, originally writen by Gail Miles, published in 2018 and updated in 2020 by Ren Lawlor, we discuss the benefits of influenza vaccination, why we need to undertake this every year, who is eligible, which vaccines to use and dispe

Get ready for winter now... The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a huge amount of upheaval and changed the way we live our lives in a very short space of time.

Dr Duncan Keeley and Prof Martin Partridge have set out that there are advantages of separating out the routine inhaled treatment of asthma and COPD from that needed in more acute situations.

In this article for Primary Care Respiratory Update, Clare Cook, PCRS Respiratory Leaders Programme Board Chair and Physiotherapist, describes her experience as a community healthcare worker during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She explores how the team prepared for

Work up and diagnosis of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms, including those indicating COVID-19 infection, during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a structured clinical assessment that minimises the risk for cross-infection.

PCRS is delighted to announce the launch of Wave 1 of a series of new educational webinars for HCPs and patients to help the management of primary care respiratory conditions in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.   

Steve Holmes, GP in Somerset and PCRS Education Lead and Rob Stone, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Musgrove Park Hospital, Somerset provide a practical guide for clinicians and commissioners in supporting patients to recover after COVID-19.

NICE issue rapid guidelines on the community management of patients with COPD NICE has issued new rapid guidance on keeping safe those patients in the community with COPD.

NICE has issued new rapid guidance on caring for patients in the community with severe asthma and adults with suspected or confirmed pneumonia.

Guidance was published in April 2021 regarding the reinstatement of spirometry services during and post-COVID-19.