Given the direct impact of COVID-19 on those with existing breathing difficulties, the ‘newly breathless’ – those whose lung function has been impaired by Covid – as well as rising levels of air pollution, the need for social prescribing solutions in respiratory healthcare has never been greater.

The transformation of out of hospital services has been identified as a key element of the NHS recovery plan. Patient care delivered closer to or in their own homes was identified as a priority in the NHS Long Term Plan.

The formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022 has given us as healthcare professionals an opportunity to improve and shape respiratory care in our area for patients with respiratory disease.

It can be a challenge to keep up with the rapid changes in how the NHS is governed and organised across all the nations of the UK.

The one-minute sit to stand test (1-MSTST) has become the test of choice during the pandemic for measuring exercise capacity, both at in-person and virtual appointments due to the inability to conduct robust six minute or incremental / endurance shuttle walk tests (6MWT/ ISWT/ ESWT).

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a group of bacteria that are capable of causing opportunistic lung infections and the development of NTM pulmonary disease (NTM-PD).

In this article we review the major changes in the 2023 GOLD report as they impact on the initial and ongoing pharmacological management of COPD and consider the implications for primary care in the UK.

This pragmatic guide on the identification, referral and ongoing management of adults and children with severe asthma has been developed by an expert group led by Dr Steve Holmes, a GP based in Shepton Mallet, Somerset and including Will Carroll, University Hospital of the North Midlands, Stoke-o

This issue of PCRU introduces our latest pragmatic guide on severe asthma which guides you through this process ensuring the right patients end up in the right place with the right care.

PCRS welcome the verdict of the inquest into the death of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale in 2020.

To mark World COPD Day we have recorded a special podcast exploring the topic of Exacerbations in COPD. Featuring Dr.

Digital health has come to the fore with the COVID pandemic. Some apps and digital strategies are welcome and we wish we had adopted them years ago – other initiatives are not so effective and we have concerns about how they will affect the healthcare we provide.

Vikki Knowles - Surrey: Minimising MDIs Independent Respiratory Nurse Specialist Vikki Knowles shares the early stages of work being done to minimise the use of Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) in their practice in Surrey and how that can positively impact the greener healthcare environment

Dr Kat Parker - Bristol: Switching to DPIs In this case study from Dr Kat Parker, she shares her experience of how her practice in Bristol has been switching patients from Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) to Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs) where appropriate to do so, when and how they communicat