Key facts

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.

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

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.

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.

The PCRS Respiratory Leadership Programme celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2017. To mark this milestone we are highlighting how some of the programme’s alumni are using the skills they have learned to improve patient care.

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

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.