On Demand webinar: An update on the management of COPD
Chaired by Katherine Hickman (our PCRS Executive Chair), this webinar focusses on smoking, movement for health and COPD exacerbations with guest speakers Darush Attar-Zadeh, Steve Holmes and Alicia Piwko. They discuss:
- The benefits of stopping smoking, very brief advice (VBA), new opportunities in smoking cessation, as well as how you can have positive, effective conversations with your patients in short appointment slots.
- Treating exacerbations quickly, non-pharma interventions, the risks of having rescue packs and oral steroids on repeat prescriptions and the importance of those review and follow up processes in ensuring improved patient outcomes.
- The importance of individuals with COPD keeping active and maintaining their overall fitness, referrals to social prescribing and PR and providing practical advice in order give them the tailored support they need.
This webinar provides a clear and concise update on the management of COPD, as well as some essential information and knowledge to ensure your COPD patients continue to experience best practice COPD care.
This event also accompanies three campaign animations that were launched on 10th June 2024 - please see the below links for these animations: It's not just another flare up, Movement for health, and It's never too late to quit.
Speakers
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Katherine Hickman
Katherine qualified from Leeds University in 2000. She originally did a Medicine Rotation acquiring her MRCP before settling into General Practice. She is a GP Partner in Bradford. Katherine is the Respiratory Lead for West Yorkshire ICB, Primary Care Clinical Lead for the National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP), and Chair of PCRS. Outside of work she enjoys cooking, baking, yoga, and outdoor swimming and has recently rediscovered her love for singing and joined a choir. -
Darush Attar-Zadeh
A Clinical Fellow Pharmacist with a keen interest in preventative medicine. Darush has presented at various national and international conferences (including the PCRS, IPCRG, ERS, Clinical Pharmacy Congress). Darush was part of the London Clinical Senate Helping Smokers Quit programme. Darush is a lead for NHS RightBreathe and helps mentor clinicians in 45 PCNs across NW London. In 2019 Darush was awarded PCPA GP Pharmacist runner up. He runs group sessions with patients and clinicians. Darush is the Chair of the PCRS Conference Organising Committee, also on the Executive Committee.
Other roles include:
Co-Chair Taskforce for Lung Health Medicines Optimisation Working Group
Co-Chair of the CYP Pharmacy asthma group pan London
Darush enjoys running and raising money for respiratory and cardiac charities. One of his main missions is to reduce health inequalities caused by tobacco and spends a lot of his time teaching in deprived locations across the UK. -
Steve Holmes
Steve Holmes has been a general practice principal since 1989 and continues to provide clinical care to the Shepton Mallet population in Somerset. He is a previous chair of PCRS and remains involved in the service development committee and policy forum (with a background supporting the executive, education and the leadership programme). He is currently on the IPCRG Education committee. He was on RCGP council for more than a decade and is current chair of the Severn RCGP Faculty. He has been involved in more than 300 published papers and has spoken widely. He is a current clinical lead for Integrated Care in Somerset ICB, a clinical respiratory lead for NHS England (South West). He enjoys keeping running when the opportunity arises and playing the piano and a variety of guitars badly. -
Alicia Piwko
Alicia Piwko is a specialist pharmacist working in Asthma, COPD & Integrated Respiratory Care. In addition to patient facing clinics and multiple disciplinary team working, her role involves the promotion and implementation of evidence-based prescribing guidance across both South East London and the wider London area, considering clinical effectiveness, environmental sustainability and local health inequalities. Having previously worked in primary care and with an ongoing integrated role, she is an active member of PCRS. She is passionate about driving individual clinician change through education, with her clinical interests including the management of airways disease, linked comorbidities and polypharmacy.
Challenging Perceptions of COPD
The PCRS Challenging perceptions of COPD campaign seeks to change attitudes to COPD, by shifting the narrative and focusing on what HCPs can do to more effectively support their patients.
Podcast - Very Brief Advice (VBA)
In this new series, for both existing and non-members of PCRS, we will be briefly discussing some pertinent respiratory topicsTo kick things off and to mark National No Smoking Day on the 13th March, join Steve Holmes (GP and PCRS Committee Member) and Ren Lawlor (Independent Nurse Consultant and Vice-Chair of PCRS) as they give a brief outline of Very Brief Advice (VBA), what the tools are and how you can implement them in your day-to-day practice.
Communicating the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation
How can referrers and practitioners who run courses communicate the benefits of PR to patients?
It's not just another flare up
Exacerbations, or 'flare-ups', can be common occurrences for some individuals with COPD. These are periods when breathing can be difficult, physical activity is harder and inhalers need to be taken more frequently. They may also require admission to hospital. People with COPD must know these are not normal, and they need to seek help promptly.
Movement for health
Keeping physically active is hugely important for anyone, but particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions. Keeping active and healthy reduces strain on the lungs, maintains muscle strength and enhances symptom management over time. Those living with COPD must understand and prioritise exercise and general wellbeing from the outset. Part of the Challenging Perceptions of COPD campaign, this animation provides a concise guide to supporting people with COPD to remain active and healthy.
It's never too late to quit
Smoking is the primary cause of COPD and, according to NHS figures, is thought to be responsible for 9 in every 10 cases of the condition. Supporting individuals with COPD to stop smoking in a supportive and considerate way is crucial to prevent any further damage to their lungs. Part of the Challenging the Perceptions of COPD campaign, this animation provides a concise guide to addressing smoking in people with COPD.