More than two thirds of PCRS-UK members use the GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guideline for the diagnosis, management and prevention of COPD, or a local variation of GOLD, as their management pathway for COPD, according to a survey conducted by PCRS-UK in June

Special Features Editor’s Round-Up Iain Small Chair’s Perspective Noel Baxter PCRS-UK 30th Anniversary Fran Robinson, Anne Smith, Iain Small

This article introduces the TARGET study algorithm paper, which reports development of a new clinical prediction algorithm designed to improve targeted antibiotic prescribing in children with respiratory tract infections.

2017 marks the 30th anniversary of the Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS-UK).

People living with respiratory disease require a significant amount of support, guidance and intervention to manage their condition effectively. These interventions need to be delivered by clinicians with an appropriate level of expertise in this field.

PCRS-UK welcomes the Government’s new Tobacco Control Plan for England, “Towards a Smokefree Generation”, published this week. By 2022 the plan aims to:

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.

RightCare has issued a call for CCGs to submit proposals for Quick wins.

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.

This centre-fold pull-out chart from the Spring 2017 issue of Primary Care Respiratory Update provides useful, succinct advice for healthcare professionals on appropriate tools to support respiratory diagnosis in primary care.

With an increasing workload and fewer staff, it has never been more important to find ways of supporting each other through PCRS-UK affiliated groups.

In this Delivering Excellence Locally article from the Spring 2017 issue of Primary Care Respiratory Update Vikki Knowles reports on a pragmatic solution she has devised for training her colleagues to the required standards of the new national register of certified spirometry professionals and op