In light of recent media attention, it is important to consider the risks and benefits associated with prescribing and taking montelukast for asthma treatment. While montelukast remains a valuable asthma treatment, for some, it is key to be aware of potential neuropsychiatric reactions. These have been reported in patients of all ages and include sleep disturbances, behaviour changes, depression, agitation, and, albeit rarely, hallucinations and suicidal behavior.

Doctors have reported a rise in the number of patients they are seeing with ill health due to the wider determinants of health, such as living in mouldy or damp homes, employment, poor air quality or education, a census has revealed – sparking urgent calls for government to address the “avoidable social causes” of ill health.    

In response to the BBC’s Morning Live segment broadcast 12th February on asthma, PCRS has formulated a joint response with the British Thoracic Society raising our concerns of the inaccurate reporting on asthma treatment.Our complaint in full: 

Today the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and the Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) publish a joint Position Statement on Integrated Care in Respiratory. 

Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK as part of ambitious government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping and protect children’s health, the Prime Minister has announced today (29 January 2024). Figures from the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity suggest 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1% in 2020.

At the Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS), we believe in 'optimal' respiratory health for all. Our aim is that, together, we can benefit every person with, or at risk of, lung disease. To do this, though, we need your help and we are thrilled to introduce our monthly webinar series "PCRS in Conversation".What to expectThe sessions will be held on the last Wednesday of every month, starting 31 January at 7.30pm. The sessions will run for 30 minutes and any respiratory professional working in primary, community and integrated care settings is welcome to join.

The start of a new year is an ideal time to support people to consider small ways to begin working towards a healthy lifestyle. Grand gestures are unlikely to be sustainable long term but taking small steps towards a longer term goal can help to improve or maintain their lung health and encourage patients to take further steps along the road. Here are our top five primary care resolutions for 2024 to encourage and support patients to improve or protect their lung health.

Did you wish you had attended the 2023 conference but simply couldn’t afford it? Were you unable to get the time off as your colleague was already booked for annual leave? When you looked into it the train fare and hotel prices were they way too expensive?

Aspiration pneumonia (AP) is disproportionately represented in people with a learning disability, in whom it is a major cause of death. AP is the microaspiration of bacteria-rich secretions into the lungs in sufficient amounts to cause alveolar and systemic inflammation. Pneumonia can arise and is seen in people with abnormal swallowing which can often go undiagnosed. Speech and language therapy assessment is key for anyone at potential risk of AP. Prevention is possible with measures including good oral hygiene and food thickening.