With so many new inhaled therapies available for treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), how does the busy healthcare professional make a prescribing decision which is safe and effective?
There is widespread recognition that respiratory disease has been under prioritised and neglected for many years (All-Party Parliamentary Group [APPG], 2014). Those of us who work in primary care feel this is improving, although we recognise we still have a long way to go. We have welcomed guidance and guidelines that promote good respiratory care, as the patient, not the diagnosis, is key to what we do.
It could just be another public campaign, but it’s not. This one is a bit different. Here’s why.
The launch of a ground-breaking epidemiological study into lung disease in the UK has revealed some stark outcomes. The results of the three-year research project were launched by the British Lung Foundation (BLF) in the ‘Battle for Breath’ report on 27 May, 2016. The project aimed to compile a comprehensive overview of the extent and impact of lung disease across the UK, and is the first time data on this scale has been gathered since 2006.
Inspiring the next generation of nurses to work in primary care.
In collaboration with the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) Scotland, the QNI are working to update the standards for general practice nursing (GPN) education and practice (http://bit.ly/1tvBCKb).
There are only a few universities accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the general practice nurse specialist practitioner qualification (GPN SPQ). However, in recent years, there has been a range of newer educational
developments aimed at providing the knowledge and skills needed for nurses moving into general practice — hence the need to update the ‘standards’ to ensure consistency across the four UK countries and the universities that offer this course.
Lung function or spirometry testing is a primary activity for many general practice nurses (GPNs). Spirometry testing is most commonly used to help diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is likely to increase in importance as the proportion of individuals living with the condition is on the rise in the UK (Gibson et al, 2013).
In the UK, there are an estimated one million, one hundred thousand people over the age of 65 who are chronically lonely (Victor et al, 2005).
In 2015, a report by the Campaign to End Loneliness, Hidden Citizens, explored current understandings of and approaches to identifying loneliness and offered innovative insights into how policymakers and healthcare professionals can improve their outreach. Since its launch, public and political attention to loneliness has continued to sharpen as the social, economic and moral case for tackling loneliness grows in awareness, evidence and support.
Put simply, exudate is the fluid that leaks from the capillaries during the healing process. It helps to create a moist wound environment and assists with healing by removing devitalised tissue, repairing damaged cells and providing nourishment to assist with epithelialisation. Exudate is produced in the initial wound-healing process as part of the inflammation stage.
Exudate is created in response to injury as neutrophils migrate to the wound site and cytokine messengers instruct the surrounding blood vessels to become more porous and leak protein-rich fluid into the wound bed. Exudate is full of nutrients and growth factors and, when produced in the right amount, ensures that there is a moist wound environment, which is essential for timely healing.
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