Historically, clinical decision rules have been used to guide antibiotic prescribing for patients presenting with signs and symptoms that indicate possible RTIs or infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (IE-COPD).

Our intention is for the upper airways to be considered in tandem with the lower airways to avoid misdiagnosis and undermanagement. Implications for diagnosis and treatment are discussed and an algorithm offered.

Can Only Plan Daily - COPD is a serious disease needing the right diagnosis and treatment with the person’s need sitting front and centre.

This edition of PCRU has a flavour of 'out with the old and in with the new', as it is the last one in which we will feature Noel Baxter's thoughts and reflections from the Chair.

Key learning points: • Taking a history, doing the examination, chest X-ray and spirometry are really important • Look for red flags and refer these patients straight to secondary care. • Do the basics which will point you towards the things you can do in primary care.

Asthma Guidelines in Practice – A PCRS Consensus is a practical and pragmatic guide for healthcare professionals working in primary and intermediate care.  This guide was commissioned to provide clarity on aspects of diagnosis, management and monitoring of asthma that are uncertain

This 'Get Winter Wrapped' issue focuses on the twin challenges of winter pressures and coping with COVID-19.  

There are no mandatory training requirements for healthcare professionals delivering respiratory care and the quality of care and patient pathways are variable throughout the country depending on the knowledge, skills, competence and confidence of those delivering care.

This article by Darush Attar Zadeh, alongside the excellent short form animations below, supports the fantastic range of tools that have been produced as part of the Asthma Right Care movement to support you to chall

This edition of PCRU features guest editor Nicola Strandring-Brown, a primary care nurse working in South Yorkshire and PCRS Committee Member.

This edition of PCRU features the final editor's round up from Dr Iain Small, who has expertly lead our newsletter for many years.

Welcome to the Summer 2021 edition of Primary Care Respiratory Update. In this publication, and in keeping with the weather outside, we are providing a focus on climate, Global Warming, and the environment.

This pragmatic guide has been developed based on the work of the PCRS Greener Healthcare Working Group.

The necessary restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have created a backlog of patients in primary care who have perhaps delayed coming forward with respiratory health concerns, whose respiratory condition has worsened during lockdown and those whose assessment or treatment