The UK Inhaler Group (UKIG), which PCRS-UK is a member of, are working with Asthma UK to develop a comprehensive set of videos on correct inhaler technique. The videos would be available online and form a definitive, easily accessed resource for patients and healthcare professionals.

The 1st July 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the most important public health reform in generations – the ending of smoking in enclosed public places in England. This would be a great opportunity to focus on helping your patients to quit smoking.

A new position statement on treating tobacco dependency in primary care has been published by the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG). The paper reinforces the key messages of the PCRS-UK tobacco dependency campaign which are:

World No Tobacco Day is a day designated by the World Health Organisation to highlight the health and additional risks associated with tobacco use.

Public Health England has launched a new respiratory symptoms awareness campaign, called ‘Be clear on Cancer’, which will run on radio, TV, press, digital and social media until 31 August.

The British Thoracic Society has published updated guidance on the use of emergency oxygen. It is based on new evidence about how effective prescribing and delivery of emergency oxygen for patients can both improve health and save lives.

Missed opportunities contributed to child’s death from asthma

Reflective practice is an important component of continuing professional development and the governing bodies of most professional groups require their members to submit detailed records as part of the revalidation/accreditation process.

The UK’s respiratory health sector is increasingly diverse and, whilst many HCPs still work in traditional settings, others are involved in project-based matrix teams.

FOCUS ON INTEGRATED RESPIRATORY EDUCATION Respiratory Education Training Day Wednesday 17 May 2017 13.00 - 17.00 hrs (Lunch included) Trinity Park Conference & Event Centre, Ipswich IP3 8UH

The 24th March is World TB Day which commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

Practical input is needed from primary care to ensure that the new data standards will work in practice so please take some time to fill in the survey New national data standards on tobacco use would:-

Nearly one in five children in the UK is living in poverty and this deprivation increases the number of hospital admissions for asthma which have continued to rise over the last decade.

It recommends that primary care must work in a much more integrated way with secondary care in order to more effectively manage the needs of this vulnerable group of patients. Audit data collated during 2014 shows that:

Based on the press release issued by NICE, it appears that much of the content of the draft guideline reinforces and is consistent with the BTS/SIGN guideline on asthma management which was  updated in September 2016 (see