London and South Regional Committee
History
Current Committee members
Aims of the Committee
Achievements & current work in 2008
Get in contact with the Regional Committee
The London & South regional committee was formed at the beginning of 2005 by Fran McCabe - Head of Regional Development & Breathe Easy, Ashley Green - Support & Development Manager & Diana Brittan. Initially the committee included a wide selection of members from across the region (London, South East and East Anglia) who were from various backgrounds including patients, Breathe Easy group members, respiratory nurses & physiotherapists, PCT representatives, GPs, paediatric consultants and members from the voluntary sector.
Dame Diana Brittan – Chair
Ashley Green – BLF Support & Development Manager
Colin Figgett – Chair of Breathe Easy Tunbridge Wells
Jeni Smith – Secretary of Breathe Easy Banbury
Sheila Hall – Chair of Breathe Easy Worthing
Michael Heaphy – Chair of Breathe Easy Luton & District
Farida Parkar – Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Luton PCT
Pat Weavers – Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Peterborough PCT
Noel Baxter – GP with specialism in COPD
Carol Hakimian – Treasurer of Breathe Easy Canterbury
Katie Khan – Respiratory Nurse, Surrey PCT The Regional Committee has 2 main aims which are: - To influence and shape the work that the London & South region undertakes, including campaigning activities, Breathe Easy group support and awareness events.
- To raise the profile of the BLF with all people and organisations involved in respiratory health care
Undertook a survey of GP practices in the 4 BLF hotspots of Barking & Dagenham, Medway, Southampton and Peterborough.
The main findings from the survey were that:
- Only GP practices in Medway & Southampton saw over 100 respiratory patients per month. The majority of practices saw between 25 & 50 patients.
- Both Asthma and COPD are the most common lung conditions where practices saw a high volume of patients.
- In total 78% of practices have a respiratory nurse or specialist available. However from this figure only 50% of practices in Barking & Dagenham have a respiratory nurse or specialist.
- In total 80% of practices had spirometery services available. All surgeries have over 80% whilst Southampton has 100%.
- In total 82% of practices referred their patients to Pulmonary rehabilitation this includes 80% for Medway & Barking & Dagenham, 90% in Southampton but only 60% in Peterborough
Campaigned for pulmonary rehabilitation to be provided in areas where it was currently was not in place and where there was a need.
This included writing to the following Primary Care Trusts – Camden, Eastern Sussex Downs & Weald, Hounslow and Sutton & Merton.
Positive responses were received by all the PCTs and/or relevant healthcare professionals to say that pulmonary rehabilitation was either being started or funding was being sort.
Organised programme for Information, Support & Exchange (ISE) Days
The regional committee agreed and helped to set the programme for the 3 ISE days that took place in April 2008. Additionally the committee identified the locations were the days were to take place.
The ISE days were open to all Breathe Easy groups and included an update from the London & South team on work that the BLF was undertaking such as Breathe Easy Week, BLF Active and Breathe Easy group handbook. Additionally, we held discussion groups on group activities including fundraising, events, recruitment and BLF Active.
The events were all very successful and we had over 100 group members attend, which is a record for the region.
If you would like to contact the London & South regional committee you can email Ashley Green or Diana Brittan.
