With World COPD Awareness Day on Wednesday – under the theme of ‘Healthy Lungs – never more important’ – and the month of November dedicated to highlighting the condition, our NHS respiratory team are inviting people with COPD to join them to discuss their symptoms in a safe space with others who have the condition.

What is COPD?

COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties and can , be a debilitating and isolating condition.

It includes:

• emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
• chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways

COPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people do not realise they have it. The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit day to day activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.

Patient support

The Oxford Health respiratory team started in 2000 as a hospital team supporting inpatients and then expanded to support early discharges.

Now they support every patient who requires oxygen in Oxfordshire as well as hospital in-reach services and community support to patients with a range of respiratory conditions.

Respiratory Support Nurse Lucy Speakman, who co-ordinates the support group, said:

“I have been a respiratory nurse for a number of years, and I kept hearing from patients about how isolating COPD was, so I set up an informal group which has now been running since 2017 and enables people to meet and discuss the challenges of living with the condition.

“COPD is a disabling condition and remains the leading cause of death worldwide. I often find patients can be quite embarrassed to talk about how much it effects them but these fortnightly sessions where they can meet others experiencing the same difficulties allows some peer support to take place and encourages others to speak up and know that they are not alone.”

These sessions are held fortnightly every Wednesday at Oxsrad, Court Place Farm, Marsh Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0NQ.

If you are interested in finding out more about these sessions then email respiratoryteam@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk for the attention of Lucy.

Learn more

To find out more about COPD visit the following website:

www.nhs.uk/COPD

Keeping your lungs healthy