PCRS offer two posters available for download and use in practice surgeries and pharmacies.  The posters highlight the benefit of regular preventer inhaler therapy and a reduction in reliance on short -acting reliever inhalers.  Both posters recommend talking to the practice nurse or ph

In this article, updated for asthma in November 2019, we discuss the building blocks of a good asthma review focusing on:

Case Study 1 - Noel Baxter Locum GP and PCRS Policy Lead discusses the importance of system change in the practice particularly around the reviewing and re-authorising of repeat prescriptions for short acting beta-2-agonsts

The playing cards on these slides and downloadable PDF playing cards are a way to trigger conversations with healthcare teams, and between pharmacists and patients regarding the use of/reliance on SABA inhalers. We invite you to use them to start a discussion!

In this article for Primary Care Respiratory Academy, Noel Baxter describes the nine good care processes developed by a multidisciplinary and integrated respiratory team in Lambeth and Southwark with a novel way to disseminate the measures and show improvement.

Patients with respiratory symptoms and disease deserve a correct diagnosis and correct guideline driven care that is standardized, patient focused, delivered by a Health Care Professional (HCP) with suitable training and experience, at a site and within an appropriate timeframe to meet their need

In this article Carol Stonham outlines her plans as the new chair for PCRS including her ambitions around cleaner and kinder respiratory healthcare.

The least cost-effective inhaler device is the one that the patient cannot use. In deciding which device and drug formulation to prescribe healthcare professionals should first determine the patient’s ability to use the prescribed device correctly.

Fran Robinson talks to a patient who has had asthma all her life, feels that annual asthma reviews are a waste of time (except when they are conducted by PCRS members).

Key facts

PCRS welcome this further update of the long established, comprehensive and highly respected BTS/SIGN guideline for asthma.

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years. The main reason given by current vapers for using e-cigarettes is to help them stop smoking tobacco. This pragmatic article provides information on the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a stop smoking tool.

Leadership skills enable respiratory nurse to raise standards of care Fran Robinson talks to Deirdre Siddaway Respiratory Specialist Nurse, Suffolk Originally published in the Autumn 2018 edition of the Primary Care Respiratory Update.

How one long term condition might be used to fulfil the potential of PCN investment. PCRS Service Development Committee member, Stuart Shields, has written "10 top tips for PCN clinical directors - The respiratory long term condition perspective"  to support Primary Care Network cl

The exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) test detects exposure to CO in the last 12-18 hours. This can be used to assess smoking status AFTER a quit attempt and used prior to a quit attempt as a motivational tool.