Meet the Patients 2012 - Breathe Easy groups meet the politicians
Each year BLF Wales holds an event at the Welsh Assembly which brings together Breathe Easy group members and Assembly Members from all four of the elected parties in Wales. It's an opportunity for Breathe Easy members to talk face-to-face with politicians about the issues facing people living w
ith lung disease.
This year's event will take place on 19 June in Cardiff Bay.
Last year, we were delighted to see almost 30 AMs coming along, including the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, Ministers from the Cabinet, and AMs from all the opposition parties. Breathe Easy members raised issues such as pulmonary rehabilitation, lung services in their area, and sleep apnoea. They also took the opportunity to urge AMs to ban smoking in cars carrying children.
Picture: Wales's First Minister Carwyn Jones (right) in discussion with Breathe Easy members in the National Assembly for Wales.
Breathe Easy Awards 2011
Congratulations to all the winners of our Breathe Easy awards for 2011. These awards are made to groups and individuals who've made outstanding contributions to support BLF's work for people with lung disease.
For groups in south Wales, we had a ceremony in Cardiff on 1 December. See the pictures here. Our north Wales winners received their awards at various gatherings across the area.
Congratulations and thank you to all the winners for everything you do to support the work of BLF Wales.
Llongyfarchiadau a diolch yn fawr i'r enillwyr am eich cefnogaeth i'r gwaith BLF Wales.
Picture: Dave Stevens (l) receives the Swansea group award from Dr Patrick Flood-Page, BLF Wales chair
Breathe Easy groups help highlight COPD
Breathe Easy groups across Wales have been doing their bit to raise awareness of COPD, to mark World COPD Day on 16 November. Around 60,000 people in Wales have been diagnosed with COPD, but the true number of people with the condition is likely to be far higher.
Information stands, displays and events, involving groups and local respiratory nurses, were taking place all over the country, in places such as Kinmel Bay, Neath Valley, Pontypridd, Gilfach, Llynfi, Haverfordwest, Newport, Wrexham and Llanelli.
We've called for more investment in pulmonary rehab, which is good for COPD patients and good for the NHS as it reduces hospital admissions. Read the Western Mail coverage.
Picture: BLF COPD campaign poster: "Don't ignore your bad cough any longer"
Discussions with the Minister on action to tackle smoking
BLF Wales is part of the Wales Tobacco Control Alliance (WTCA), which is made up of organisations wanting action to tackle smoking. WTCA met with health minister Lesley Griffiths on 26 September, with Chris Mulholland representing BLF Wales.
We were pleased that the Minister committed to publishing the government's plans for tobacco control by the end of the year. However, we were disappointed that there was no reference in the Programme for Government, to plans to tackle smoking in cars with children. after the First Minister's announcement in July on this (see below).
First Minister says Wales could ban smoking in cars with kids
First Minister Carwyn Jones has announced that Wales could introduce a ban on smoking in cars with children.
He said: "we will not shy away from considering the introduction of progressive legislation to further protect children."
He said the Welsh Government would mount an awareness-raising campaign. If this did not lead to a drop in children's exposure to smoke, then the goverment would consider a ban.
BLF has been campaigning in Wales and across the UK for action to stop smoking in cars with children. We warmly welcomed the First Minister's announcement, but are keen to see the campaign launched as soon as possible.
Picture: When you smoke in the car, they smoke: BLF campaign poster
Lost Lives - new BLF report reveals shocking toll of lung cancer
Lung cancer kills far more people in Wales than any other cancer, with survival rates that are alarmingly low, says a new report published by BLF.
"Lost Lives" calls for urgent action to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.
It shows that Wales has a higher rate of lung cancer than England and Northern Ireland, though lower than Scotland. Though rates are falling among men, they are rising amongst women.
Early diagnosis is crucial, said BLF Wales chairman Dr Patrick Flood-Page: "If you have a persistent cough, don't ignore it. Go and see your GP".
Speakers, exercise, entertainment and cupcakes! BLF Wales conferences
Around 100 people with lung conditions, plus carers and families, got together in north and south Wales for two very successful conferences at the end of March. The events, in Llandudno and Swansea, marked the 25th anniversary of BLF.
Read about the events, and see the pictures from Llandudno and Swansea.
Our thanks to speakers, delegates, and exhibitors for making the days such a success.
Picture: delegates learn how to exercise in your chair
Bridgend, Neath and Swansea Breathe Easy get-together
A cuppa, a chat and a chance to share ideas and plan their work - that was the main business at a recent get-together, organised by BLF Wales, for members from the 3 Breathe Easy groups in the ABM health board area.
We've held several of these events in different areas and plan to hold more.
Picture: Mavis, Lynne and David at the event.
See more pictures here
Breathtaking! Welsh National Opera singers perform special concert for Breathe Easy groups
Singing and good lungs go together. So BLF Wales and Welsh National Opera joined forces to hold a special free concert for Breathe Easy groups from across north Wales.
It was an unforgettable performance, with Breathe Easy members singing along to well-known opera classics, songs from the shows, and beautiful Welsh arias.
Picture: Sian Meinir of WNO sings "Carmen" to Breathe Easy members
Our thanks to Sian, Owen, James, Nicci and all the WNO team for giving us all such a wonderful afternoon! See more pictures of the concert.
How healthy are Welsh lungs? Lung testing results published
BLF Wales have published
How Healthy are Welsh Lungs?.
This report gives the results of our lung function testing events across Wales. The events were run by BLF as a way of raising awareness of lung health, and finding people with below-average lung function.
They were held in venues such as shopping centres and supermarkets, to try and reach as many people as possible.
There were 12 events in total, reaching all four corners of Wales: from Haverfordwest and Cwmbran in the south west and south east, to Bangor and Wrexham in the north west and north east.
496 people were tested in total across the 12 events – 270 women and 226 men, ranging in age from 18 to 85
95 of the 496 (19%) were referred to the GP with a lung function reading which was below what it should be
Rhyl was the event where the highest percentage of people were referred – 32%
More men than women were referred - the rate was 24% of men were compared to 15% of women.
Current or ex-smokers made up 67% of people referred .
Chris Mulholland, Head of BLF Wales, said:
The results show that 1 in 5 of the people we tested had a lung function reading which was below what it should be.
Not all of them will necessarily have a lung condition. But the results confirm other evidence that there are many people who have a lung condition but don’t realise it. These are the missing millions, and we urgently need to find them.
That’s why routine lung testing in Wales, for anyone over 35 who is at high risk, is so important. Many people we encountered during the programme were unaware that their GP should be able to offer them a spirometry test. We need to do more to promote this and make it more available and accessible.
Pulmonary rehab – Everyone benefits, so why are we waiting?
It’s good for patients and the NHS, improving health and reducing hospital admissions. So why do many patients across Wales have to wait so long for pulmonary rehab? And why do others not have it at all?
This lung lottery is unacceptable. In our view, when it comes to pulmonary rehab, we simply can’t afford to wait.
Pulmonary rehab should be available to everyone in Wales who needs it" - David Jones, Neath Valley Breathe Easy group
Scroll down to read more patients' views
Download our short briefing on pulmonary rehab
Pulmonary rehab is good for patients and the NHS
62 out of 63
Patients who had attended pulmonary rehab who said it had made a positive difference, in the 2009 BLF Wales annual survey of people with lung conditions
7% versus 33%
Difference in admission rate between a group of COPD patients who had had pulmonary rehab, and a group who had not, according to a recent study
10 days in hospital versus 21 days
Difference in length of stay in hospital between a group of patients that had pulmonary rehabilitation and a group that had not, according to research
44,711
emergency admissions for respiratory diseases in Welsh hospitals (2008)
7.35 days
average length of stay for each of these patients (2008)
40%
of emergency respiratory admissions were readmissions
£2300 a week
approximate cost of a hospital bed, according to Wales Audit Office figures
(All references and sources for statistics are cited on our pulmonary rehab briefing)
Patients' views
David Stedman, Pembrokeshire.
“Since moving to Pembrokeshire I have been diagnosed with COPD.
As there is no pulmonary rehab in my area, if I became ill with a lung infection, I’d probably be admitted to hospital.
If I’d been able to follow a pulmonary rehab course my stay in hospital may not be so long.
This would be better for me, but also save NHS money and resources".
David Stedman, pictured with Diane Waghorn, fellow member of Breathe Easy Haverfordwest
Shirley Richards, Cardiff
I can’t speak highly enough of pulmonary rehab.
I was very ill when I came out of hospital - on oxygen for 16 hours and in a wheelchair.
But pulmonary rehab has made a world of difference. There are real psychological benefits too.
It was the best thing that could have happened to me”.
Shirley, a member of Cardiff Breathe Easy group, pictured at our Meet the Patients event at the National Assembly.
David Jones, Neath
“We’re very fortunate in that we have a good service in much of the area covered by our group. But we’ve had to work hard for it.
However, we need to provide the same excellent support that we have in Neath Port Talbot to all areas of Wales.
Pulmonary rehab should be available across the country”.
David Jones, Chairman, Neath Valley Breathe Easy group, pictured at a group meeting
Launching Children's Charter, lobbying for pulmonary rehab - Meet the Patients 2010
On 16 June Breathe Easy group members went to the National Assembly. They were there to meet Assembly Members and mark the launch of the children's charter across the UK.
Read more on our campaigning and lobbying page.
Find out more about the Children's Charter, including our call to ban smoking in cars carrying children.
Campaigning for better services for sleep disorders
We need to take sleep more seriously and ensure that everyone in Wales has access to a proper sleep service.That has been the message of our campaigning work on this issue over the past couple of weeks.In mid-April we brought together sleep experts from across Wales and senior officials from the Welsh Assembly Government, to help identify the next steps in improving services for all sleep disorders.At the same time we used the media to illustrate the dangers of sleep apnoea, a respiratory condition which causes constant waking in the night and leads to severe daytime sleepiness.
We worked with the BBC to get widespread coverage.You can read the BBC online feature here.
Picture: Gareth Cornfield from Llangennech, explains to the BBC how treatment for sleep apnoea has helped him
Working with others to improve lung health and services
Much of our work involves collaborating with other organisations who are also working for better lung health and services. For example, we manage the Respiratory Alliance Wales, which is made up of a wide range of organisations in the field. We're also part of the Welsh Thoracic Society, which brings together health professionals, as well as the Wales Tobacco Control Alliance.
BLF Wales highlights lung cancer
New statistics released in early February by the Welsh Assembly government show a rise in cases of lung cancer. We used the announcement as an opportunity to highlight the need to devote more attention to lung cancer. BLF Wales chair Dr Emrys Evans, a specialist in lung cancer, said: " we have to keep up the good work to tackle the causes, especially smoking. And we need to encourage anyone showing symptoms - such as a troublesome cough - to get themselves checked out straight away". We used the statistics and our comment to get a full-page article on the subject in the Western Mail and a feature on the BBC Wales website.
News and events archive
