Published on: 19 November 2024
World COPD Day will be held on Wednesday, November 20.
To mark it we will be helping people find out more about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Our Assessment of Breathing Clinic and Acute Respiratory Assessment Service (ARAS) will be supporting this.
The teams will be on hand in the main entrance at South Tyneside District Hospital from 10am to help share information.
World COPD Day is an annual awareness event run by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD).
This year's theme aims to highlight the importance of measuring lung function, also known as spirometry. Spirometry is important for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases, specifically COPD.
Rachel Tatters is a Clinical Nurse Practitioner and the Operational Lead in the Assessment of Breathing Clinic (ABC).
She said:
"Our team in the Assessment of Breathing Clinic (ABC) identify those at increased risk of COPD complications.
"At the event, ABC will be working closely with ARAS, First Contact Clinical, Community Diagnostic Hub and Community Associations.
"We will share information from Asthma and Lung UK and aim to spread the word and encourage people to look after their lungs, especially over winter.
"We hope that patients staff and visitors might recognise COPD symptoms and ask themselves ‘Could I have lung disease?’
"The message would be to see your GP and get your lung function tested."
Dr Anne-Marie Cole who is the Clinical lead in the Assessment of Breathing Clinic, added:
"Respiratory disease is a national priority for the NHS long term plan.
"It is one of the conditions highlighted as the service works to reduce health inequity.
"Avoidable deaths with COPD in our most deprived communities are over double those in our least deprived communities.
"The number of people who are admitted to hospital are three times higher per 100,000 population in our most deprived communities.
"These admissions are rising. Serious cases account for approximately 1 in 8 emergency cases.
"The areas of South Tyneside and Sunderland have the 3rd and 4th highest prevalence of COPD in England respectively.
"As a Trust, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has the highest rate of admissions and readmissions for respiratory illness across the Northeast and North Cumbria."
