In this article for Primary Care Respiratory Academy, Noel Baxter describes the nine good care processes developed by a multidisciplinary and integrated respiratory team in Lambeth and Southwark with a novel way to disseminate the measures and show improvement.

The least cost-effective inhaler device is the one that the patient cannot use. In deciding which device and drug formulation to prescribe healthcare professionals should first determine the patient’s ability to use the prescribed device correctly.

Fran Robinson talks to a patient who has had asthma all her life, feels that annual asthma reviews are a waste of time (except when they are conducted by PCRS members).

Key facts

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years. The main reason given by current vapers for using e-cigarettes is to help them stop smoking tobacco. This pragmatic article provides information on the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a stop smoking tool.

The exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) test detects exposure to CO in the last 12-18 hours. This can be used to assess smoking status AFTER a quit attempt and used prior to a quit attempt as a motivational tool.

Alongside a detailed clinical history and other important tests to assess variability (peak flow, reversibility and challenge tests) it is used to support the diagnosis of asthma. PCRS has produced this consensus position on the use of FeNO in primary care to support the diagnosis of as

Q: My patient smokes cigarettes and has a BMI of 43, they drink 45 units of alcohol a week and their physical activity is limited. What should I do first or is it better to tackle all together?

ASK : ADVISE : ACT Using VBA does not depend on the person's readiness to quit and you do not need to assess it before you start Very Brief Advice or VBA is a simple and

PCRS believe that it is the responsibility of every healthcare professional to treat tobacco dependency systematically and effectively. PCRS advocate that people wishing to quit using

In this article from the December 2017 Primary Care Respiratory Update, Charles Waddicor,chair of the PCRS-UK Trustees, shares his experience of surviving an asthma attack and his approach to self-management.  The article is introduced by Carol Stonham guest editor for this issue of Primary

In this article from Primary Care Respiratory Update, Spring 2018, Fran Robinson, discusses the use of rescue packs with Dr John Hurst, Honorary Consultant at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and Reader in Respiratory Medicine at University College (UCL) London.

In this feature from the Spring 2018 issue of Primary Care Respiratory Update, Dr Stephen Holmes discusses a case history of a presentation of mesothelioma.

Second Opinion.  Your respiratory questions answered… This question was posted by a PCRS-UK member and is answered by Dr Iain Small and Dr Vince Mak.

This guide provides an algorithm to identify people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who might benefit from ICS treatment and those in whom it may not be appropriate, and an approach to withdrawing ICS in patients in whom it is not needed.   The gui