Very Brief Advice (VBA) is our most practical tool to trigger a quit attempt, with structured behavioural support and medical treatment being the best method of quitting and ideally these are provided by stop smoking practitioners.

Tobacco dependency is a long-term relapsing condition that usually starts in childhood This tobacco dependency pragmatic guide is a practical, immediately implementable, evidence-based framework to enable healthcare professionals to routinely identify smokers, encourage a quit attempt a

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

PCRS are proud to have supported NHS England London’s #AskAboutAsthma campaign over the years.

This document outlines a consensus recommendation based on the best available evidence and expert opinion. Its purpose is to provide guidance on a safe approach within the limitations of the evidence and devices currently available.

Respiratory disease and mental health are interlinked in many ways, with respiratory conditions often impacting mental wellbeing and vice versa. NHS England states that people with severe and enduring mental illness are at greater risk of poor physical health and reduced life expect

People living in the most deprived communities across the country are set to benefit from new neighbourhood health services as the government takes the first steps in the rollout today (Wednesday 9th July), making care more convenient and reducing health inequalities.

Point-of-care testing of C-reactive protein (CRP) for the acute assessment of worsening symptoms in people known to have COPD can safely reduce the use of antibiotics and could help improve the diagnostic approach towards someone presenting in such a crisis.

With the summer holidays fast approaching, many will be planning trips abroad and booking flights for warm and sunny destinations. However, flying can be a very challenging way to travel for many people with respiratory disease.

Corinne Beirne, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Amanda Roberts, from PCRS’s patient reference group, discuss what constitutes a good asthma review from a patient’s perspective.

2024 marked a pivotal change in the management of asthma in the UK with the publication of a joint British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guideline.

As a summary, this policy statement advocates:

In this inspiring article we learn about the power of storytelling for children and young people suffering from asthma. Asthma is a very common disease, and for some it is a lifelong condition requiring long-term self-management.

In a time of uncertainty and financial pressure, this issue of Primary Care Respiratory Update (PCRU) is a vital resource for anyone working in respiratory care. As Integrated Care Boards across England face significant budget cuts, programmes that have taken years to build are now under threat.