NEW NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED

TB Alert has launched a new campaign, backed by the Department of Health, to assist nurses in raising awareness of tuberculosis, primarily among at risk groups – including those from BME groups such as the Somali, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities, as well as individuals with poorer health and immune systems - including those with HIV, homeless people, prisoners/ex-prisoners and older people.

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Fully funded Studentships available on Master of Clinical Research (Mclin Res) programme (starting September 2010)

In March 2009 The University of Manchester School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work
announced the launch of two new full-time and part-time Master of Research (MRes) programme
for intakes of students from September 2009 with pathways in Clinical research (MClin Res) and
Health and Social Care research (MRes HSC).
Following a bid to Department of Health (England) in 2009 the University was successful in
securing the equivalent of 10 WTE fully funded studentships per year between 2009 - 2011 for
registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals to be seconded from employment to
undertake the MClin Res programme. These studentships, jointly funded and supported by the
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) as part of the
Clinical Academic Training Pathways (CATPs) initiative, will be available full-time or part-time.

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The British Lung Foundation (BLF) Helpline was first opened in March 2006. Since then the Helpline has been responding to a growing number of enquiries on a range of issues relating to living with a lung condition. In 2009 the Helpline dealt with around 17000 calls.

Most of the calls are from people who are living with a lung condition, and specifically about some aspect of their condition and how it affects their lives. Typically, the Helpline receives around 60 calls a day about respiratory-related problems.

The Helpline is staffed by team of specially trained staff, including respiratory nurses (adult and paediatric) welfare benefits advisers and counsellors, backed up by specialist doctors from the BLF as needed.  As you’d expect, most of the enquiries are by phone, but also enquiries are made by email and letter.

The Helpline team provides advice and support for anyone affected by a lung condition. It could be the patient themselves, their partner and family, mums and dads of children, friends and employers, as well as healthcare professionals.

Advice Service Manager, Mark Pilling, explains:

“Providing advice over the telephone makes the service accessible to virtually everyone. And it is convenient for people who are confined to their home, either because of their condition or their caring responsibilities.”

The majority of people contacting the Helpline want information about their lung condition and how they can help themselves to live with it. However the Helpline can be contacted for general advice on living with a lung condition, for information on things like:

• How to arrange oxygen when going on holiday
• Entitlement to welfare benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance etc.
• Blue Badge parking permits, travelling with oxygen and other mobility matters
• Claiming compensation for occupational lung disease, and
• Rights to time off work due to lung health problems.

“There are many other issues that we can advise on. We have an extensive library of reference material to help us, including the CAB service information system.”

By achieving this quality standard the BLF Helpline has
proved that the service it delivers, from how it is publicised to how calls are answered, is of the highest quality. Those who have used
the Helpline have consistently been pleased with the service which has been shown to help cut down the isolation often felt by people living with lung condition:

"The support I have received has been nothing short of marvellous and has helped me tremendously" Chris

The Helpline team are very pleased to have been awarded the accreditation.

“Talking to the people who call us makes my job enjoyable and fulfilling."

Tracey Newton - Helpline Specialist Adviser

Advice Service Manager, Mark Pilling, adds:

“I am really pleased that we have achieved the accreditation as it demonstrates what a good quality service we provide. It also recognises the commitment and hard work of the Helpline staff who work hard to provide the best service they can to people living with a lung condition. Anyone contacting the Helpline can be reassured that we are providing a good quality service for them.”

The BLF Helpline is open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and calls are charged at the caller’s local rate. Outside these hours, or if all the advisers are busy, we use an answer machine. Callers are encouraged to leave a message and their telephone number, and we then call them back.

If you would like further information about Helpline and how it can help support the people you care for, contact Mark on the above number.

University of Salford, Greater Manchester
Graduate Teaching Assistantships – sponsored by the School of Nursing
Research which has an impact on improving health outcomes for patients and their families is a core aspect of our research and one of our key activities related to the research theme ‘Supporting People with Long Term Conditions’. We would welcome applications from those with a background in nursing for our Graduate Teaching Assistant role which will enhance research relating to living with chronic respiratory disease. Proposed research topics include:

• Supporting patients and their families living with breathlessness
• E-communication and digital media to support rehabilitation and independent living for patients and families living with COPD

Candidates must possess a good honours degree and be able to demonstrate the potential to complete successfully a higher degree by research. You will be expected to show an aptitude and enthusiasm for teaching to be able to contribute to the pre and post-registration programmes delivered in the School.

The School has an aspirational research community and we enjoyed considerable success within the Research Assessment Exercise 2008, being placed 10th out of the 35 nursing submissions, for further information link here. 

The scholarships are worth £13,290 per annum over three years and all fees will be paid by the University.

Closing date for applications: February 5th 2010

Eligibility: UK and EU

For more information see: www.salford.ac.uk

Research topic information: Dr Janelle Yorke
T: +44 (0) 161 295 6477
Email: j.yorke[@]salford.ac.uk

A request for examples of good practice from the Joint National Clinical Directors for respiratory disease

Having recently been appointed as joint National Clinical Directors for the respiratory programme, Professor Sue Hill and Dr Robert Winter are asking for your assistance. The newly established Lung Improvement Programme (part of NHS Improvement) is developing a web-based show-case of examples of good practice and innovation in the areas of COPD, Home Oxygen and Asthma please see further details in the following links.

Lung Best Practice Cover Letter

Asthma Good Practice

COPD Good Practice

Asthma UK Foundation Grant

Asthma UK has just opened its annual foundation grant round for 2010. The deadline is 1pm 12 February 2010. The direct link is as below:

http://www.asthma.org.uk/for_researchers/apply_for_funding/asthma_uk_2010_found.html

ARNS Members Survey 2009

The full analysis and report from the ARNS Members survey conducted this autumn has now been completed by Joe Annandale, ARNS Committee Member and Research & Development Lead. The aim of the survey was to ensure the committee were informed of members’ opinions regarding current key association activities as well as future potential activities. This will help to inform the Committee when considering future ARNS activities and help to meet member’s needs. The report can be view here.

Nursing Times Hall of Fame
Do you know any extraordinary nurses whose work deserves recognition? Why not nominate them to be inducted into the Nursing Times Hall of Fame.

The General Practice Airways Group will become
the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK, (PCRS)
Effective from 18th December 2009

For more info

National Clinical Strategy For COPD - eGuidlines Webcast

eGuidelines.co.uk is hosting a webcast on the forthcoming National Strategy for COPD. This brief webcast will provide background to the National Strategy and an insight into its aims. Key points to be covered include:

*    Identifying gaps in current care and highlighting the benefits of improving COPD care to clinicians, the NHS, and patients

*    The role that primary care should play in the delivery of high-quality COPD care

*    How the National Strategy will support clinicians and PCOs in the delivery of high-quality COPD care.

The format allows you to update yourself on the National Strategy for COPD at a time and place to suit you: you can log on to www.eGuidelines.co.uk/webcasts at any time to view the webcast.

A printable certificate will be available at the end of the webcast, which will provide you with evidence of your learning.

Are you a clinically qualified NHS leader with a proven track record in quality improvement?
Do you have the potential to drive change and promote quality at a high level?

The Health Foundation's Quality Improvement Fellowships are now open for applications.

Call for informal poster display

Are you involved in running a local respiratory nurse group?

Invitation for informal poster display at
Local Respiratory Nurse Group Forum

24th September 2009, 1500-1945 hours, University of Warwick

The General Practice Airways Group is inviting all nurses either involved in running a local respiratory nurse group, or interested in setting up a new group, to join us on 24th September 2009, 1500-1945 hours, at Warwick University for a highly practical, interactive, informative meeting to share ideas with those who have been successful in this area. Click HERE for details of the meeting.

The GPIAG are calling for informal posters from existing groups to display information sharing their experience of establishing the group and keeping it going, and highlight the successes and issues or problems faced and how they overcame them.  The posters are to be displayed, and no verbal presentation will be required.

If you are a member of such as group, please share your group’s story. Please click HERE for further information – we would be delighted to assist with the production of the poster – please let us know if you need help!

The GPIAG wishes to acknowledge the generous support of Allen & Hanburys, AstraZeneca UK Limited and Schering-Plough Limited in the provision of sponsorship to support this event.

Please pass this ealert onto colleagues who may find it of interest

GPIAG Secretariat

Interested in influencing/delivering respiratory care beyond practice level in primary care?
Need to know the latest respiratory policy and what to do about it?
Need to know how to build a business case to develop respiratory services?

GPIAG Respiratory Leaders and PwSI’s Initial Development Workshop
10th-11th July 2009, Wokefield Park, Reading
Places are available on a first-come/first served basis –
and FREE to GPIAG members – contact us now to register your interest
This event will provide the tools and skills to enable primary care clinicians and nurses with a special interest in respiratory disease to influence and develop specialist services within their primary care region, within the changing NHS environment. Click HERE for more information.
What’s in the programme?
Using a series of practical interactive workshops and presentations, delegates will learn how to develop a business case for commissioning in the following sessions:

·        The NHS landscape – Practical business case                                                                          
An update on the changing NHS environment and how the latest NHS policy changes will affect commissioning and provision of services for you and your patients, e.g. the COPD National Strategy

·         Providing integrated respiratory services across primary and secondary care
A guide to providing integrated respiratory services across primary and secondary care and to improving clinical outcomes

·         The key components of a simple business case - How to develop a business case to improve respiratory services in your area for presentation to the practice-based commissioning team or PCT commissioners

·         What are my next steps to making the changes?

·         Influencing managers I want in my healthcare community - First-hand experience from people who have been working in the commissioning environment
The feedback from previous attendees has been extremely positive – “not only is the programme full of the right information, the event provides a networking opportunity to share and glean ideas and best practice”.
If you would like to register for this event, or request further information please contact the GPIAG Secretariat on telephone: 0121 351 4455 or info@gpiag.org. 

Hurry, places are available on a first-come, first-served basis!

PRESS RELEASE

New Education for Health Bursary:
50% funding for 5 nurses for 2 years to undertake Masters level education in respiratory care 

Leading education charity Education for Health today announced details of its new Education for Health Bursary for Masters level education.

The new Bursary is available towards the first 2 years of the Charity’s Masters programme in Respiratory Care and is being funded by the Charity from a bursary grant awarded to them from Allen and Hanburys. It provides 50% funding for 5 health professionals to undertake Masters Education for 2 years. This means health professionals can benefit from a much as £2000 sponsorship towards the first 2 years of the Masters Programme. In the first year students are actively encouraged to review their own role in relation to the provision of respiratory services nationally and locally and challenge themselves to achieve more than they thought possible to improve patient care.

48 health professionals are currently enrolled on the Charity’s Masters Programmes which have been steadily accruing a reputation for a high quality, flexible learning experience with direct relevance to the students’ own workplace setting.

To view the full Press Release please visit our website:

http://www.educationforhealth.org.uk/pages/about_us/press_releases_news.asp#Msc 

For enquiries, in the first instance, please contact:
Candy Perry - Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs
Tel: 01926 836995
Email: c.perry@educationforhealth.org

Sarah Wilson - Communications Assistant
Tel: 01926 838968
Email s.wilson@educationforhealth.org.uk

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is campaigning to end the additional charges and restrictions that are placed on people travelling with oxygen by ensuring that all airlines offer the same level of service. The campaign will call on airlines to provide free oxygen, to allow passengers to bring their own cylinder or concentrator onboard and to ensure that each airline makes their policies on these issues absolutely clear.

You may be interested in a buyers' guide to spirometers just published by NHS PASA's Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP).
 
The guide describes all of the things to consider when choosing which spirometer to buy or use including operational considerations, performance, economic and purchasing information. It includes comparative tables on all of the products currently on the market. The guide should enable the NHS to make an informed decision and choose a product that best meets their needs.

The guide is referenced in the DH Good Practice Guide to Transforming Respiratory and Sleep Diagnostics Services and will support delivery of the DH clinical strategy on COPD when published.

The Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP) generates, gathers and assesses evidence on medical products and related services to encourage informed decision-making around the purchase and choice of products used in the NHS. They are funded by the Dept of Health.

You can sign up for notification of publications, suggest new projects and view their work programme at www.pasa.nhs.uk/cep

National COPD Audit – five emerging reports:
The reports present outcomes of what has been a truly national audit, a major undertaking encompassing both Primary and Secondary Care within England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Isles.
Data has been collected from 97% of Acute Trusts in UK, 10,000 cases of exacerbation, 73% of Primary Care Organisations, 3000 General Practitioners and 3000 patients with COPD.
The national COPD audit programme has been a tremendous achievement, engaging clinicians, managers and patients in both the acute and community sectors. It illustrates how complex audit of this kind can provide valuable insights into cross-boundary health care. In particular, the reports highlight the major contribution towards COPD care made by the Nursing Profession. However, the reports emphasise how important it is for staff in Primary and Secondary Care organisations to work better together if integrated services are to develop. We would also highlight the amount of specialist respiratory nurse vacancies within secondary care at the time of audit.
The following reports can be accessed here:

• Report of the National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Audit 2008: Resources and Organisation of care in Acute NHS Units across the UK
• Report of the National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Audit 2008: Clinical Audit of COPD exacerbations admitted to acute NHS units across the UK
• Report of the National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Audit 2008, UK Primary Care Organisations: Resources and Organisation of care
• Report of the National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Audit 2008: Patient Survey
• Report of the National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Audit 2008: GP Survey

For further information about the National COPD Audit 2008 click here ( http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/copd )

ARNS intends to provide a collective Respiratory Nursing comment and feedback on the reports, together with views and suggestions for what additional measures Respiratory Nurses would find helpful to audit in the next round. Please send your responses to Angela Hurlstone, ARNS Secretariat by email: Angela.Hurlstone@brit-thoracic.org.uk

National Primary Care Respiratory Conference of the GPIAG
Transforming respiratory care: Your chance to make a difference
25th/26th September 2009, University of Warwick
The theme for the 2009 GPIAG Primary Care Conference is ‘transforming respiratory care’ and how primary care health professionals can ‘make a difference’ both through their individual clinical care of patients, and how they structure and organise respiratory care within the practice and beyond.

For more information, please contact the GPIAG conference organisers on telephone: 0121 351 4455, or visit the website: www.gpiag.org.

COPD Self Management Plan

Helping patients to manage their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
The British Lung Foundation has produced a Self Management Plan for
COPD, which is being offered for sale to healthcare providers. It is
designed to help patients manage their COPD more effectively.
The Plan includes sections for recording medication, oxygen status and
lung function, monitoring symptoms and preventing exacerbations. It also
features helpful guidance on breathing techniques, healthy eating, the
weather and details of useful contacts.
The handy A5-size publication was produced in consultation with
patients, respiratory nurses, GPs, consultants, physiotherapists and
other healthcare professionals. It is an official publication of the
British Lung Foundation.
Special versions of the Plan can be designed to include your
organisation's logo and contact details on the cover.
Prices start at £3.00 per copy plus VAT, with substantial discounts
available for larger orders.
For more information, sample copies and to request a quotation, please
contact:

Charlotte Jackson
BLF Publications
British Lung Foundation
73-75 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7ER
t: 020 7688 5571

e: publications@blf-uk.org
w: http://www.lunguk.org/

ARTP Papers

The ARTP have produced from a series of workshops and consultations a set of position papers with the hope of both informing and setting standards on various topics.

The finished papers are available on the public area of their website www.artp.org.uk under downloads - ARTP standards.