Children are turning their backs on smoking tobacco in significant numbers, a Government survey reveals. Only one in six children (16%) aged 11-15 admit to have ever tried smoking, a substantial decline compared to 1996 when nearly half (49%) had tried cigarettes. 

NICE has published new indicators for asthma and COPD, part of a suite of new indicators, which will inform negotiations for the 2020/21 QOF in England.

NICE has published an updated COPD guideline which makes recommendations on inhaled triple therapy, and oral corticosteroids for managing exacerbations.

BTS/SIGN has published an updated guideline on the management of asthma.  

The Government has set a goal of a ‘smoke-free’ England by 2030 in a new health prevention Green Paper.

A Respiratory Service Framework setting out the components of optimal primary and community respiratory care has been published by PCRS.

Point-of-care testing of C-reactive protein (CRP) in primary care may help reduce unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics for people with COPD, according to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Patients with mental health conditions who are prescribed varenicline to quit smoking, are more likely to have quit at two-year follow-up compared to patients prescribed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), reports a study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

New funding to deliver improvements in respiratory care with a focus on reducing local health inequalities and improving prevention is promised in a report setting out how the NHS Long Term Plan will be delivered.

PCRS is offering several bursaries to support the registration costs of healthcare professionals, who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend the PCRS Respiratory Conference 2019. Funded by Napp Pharmaceuticals, the bursaries are open to any UK based health professional.

New research suggests that e-cigarettes are more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) at helping smokers to quit but NRT works better in older people with tobacco dependency.

Primary healthcare professionals can play a key role in improving survival from lung cancer by treating tobacco dependency earlier, raising awareness of symptoms, collecting data accurately and encouraging reluctant patients to present.

Today is World NoTobacco Day. This annual campaign, run by the World Health Organisation, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second hand smoke exposure.