Respiratory clinic easing healthcare system pressure
A new community respiratory clinic in north Birmingham is helping patients to avoid respiratory flare-ups this winter, averting the need for urgent care or possible hospital admission.
The clinic is a partnership between local GPs and respiratory clinicians serving the Stockland Green area of Birmingham. Patients with undiagnosed respiratory conditions, which worsen during the colder months, are being referred by GPS where they can receive a diagnosis and treatment to better support their condition.
Through this early assessment approach, the diagnostic clinic is enabling patients like Linda McConnell (pictured) to stay well during the high-risk winter months. Linda has now received a diagnosis of COPD and is receiving the right treatment.
This has helped her to avoid her usual October chest infection and flare up and significantly improved her day-to-day breathing and mobility.
Linda commented: “I was a bit suspicious when I got the initial call from the clinic and wondered what it was for - as you do in this day and age! I was then invited to a clinic appointment.
“I was diagnosed with COPD and am receiving the right care for this condition which has really helped me in my day-to-day life. I can now climb the stairs without becoming short of breath, use my blue inhaler far less often and increased my easy walking distance from 150 yards to 250 yards.
The lady who did the breathing test and the clinician who assessed me explained the spirometry results clearly and the leaflet I came home with was really helpful.
“The team also contacted my GP directly to update them on everything so I didn't have to do anything."
Della Thomas, a community respiratory service advanced clinical practitioner with Birmingham Community Healthcare, added: “Each year, many patients experience recurrent chest infections triggered by colder weather, often leading to GP visits, reduced mobility, and in some cases hospital admissions.
“What we are trying to do is to provide proactive care by inviting patients with respiratory symptoms into the clinic to review their history perform spirometry and test lung function, treatment plans and ensure that inhalers are optimised ahead of winter.
“Everybody we have contacted so far has been really responsive to what we are trying to do. Nobody wants to be poorly during the winter months and we want to help them achieve that goal.”