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Breathe Easy Week 2011
13-19 June is the BLF’s Breathe Easy Week. This year the theme is obstructive sleep apnoea and you can get involved by taking part in our Sleep Survey. For details of events taking place around the region go to our Breathe Easy Week page
British Lung Foundation Conference
15 March 2011 - Hilton Newcastle Gateshead
The BLF North Conference on 15 March was a hugely successful and enjoyable event attended by 150 people. Delegate numbers were made up from BLF Breathe Easy group members, BLF members, health and social care professionals and NHS commissioners. This event was kindly sponsored by Air Liquide.
The event was chaired by Professor David Fishwick, Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield and BLF North Region Chairman. In the morning delegates heard from Dame Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the BLF, who delivered an interesting and amusing insight into the origins of the BLF and all that has been achieved over the last 25 years. Dr Mark Elliott talked about how a research grant from the BLF helped him develop his research interests in non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and how things don’t always go according to plan but even set backs are useful in shaping future research priorities. The last presentation of the morning was by Professor Stephen Singleton, Medical Director of NHS North East, who delivered an insight into regional health priorities and future respiratory care. He talked about the region’s success in reducing smoking prevalence from 29% to 21%, equivalent to the England average. The North East Respiratory Network will be working to develop a voice for respiratory issues across the region and focus on issues such as developing robust oxygen assessment services, care closer to home, reducing variations in services and outcomes across the region and improved respiratory education for the workforce. A lively question and answer session followed for delegates and the morning’s speakers.
Lunch and exhibition viewing was followed in the afternoon by breakout sessions where delegates chose 2 of 5 sessions to attend. All sessions were popular and the overriding message was that they were too short and people would have liked to have attended all five. Thank you to our speakers for delivering the following sessions:
Mrs Doris Williams – Singing is a Health Factor – "Brilliant!"
- Dr Anthony de Soyza – Bronchiectasis – "Brilliant session. Good information for patients, carers and nursing staff."
- Kevin Holton and Anne Moger (Department of Health) – What does the National COPD Strategy mean for you? – "A good interactive session. Good concerns/issues discussed."
- Professor David Fishwick – Occupational Lung Disease – "Amazing – completely changed my view on occupational asthma and illnesses."
- Dr Sophie West – Obstructive sleep apnoea and CPAP – "A very helpful session to understand the problem my friend suffers from and self help tips."
The conference was brought to a close by Dame Helena Shovelton providing an amusing and thought provoking speech followed by the cutting of the 25th Anniversary cake, provided by the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. Dame Helena took this opportunity to welcome our newly badged BLF Nurses in the region from Co Durham and Darlington, Newcastle and North Yorkshire and she also received donations from Friends of BLF - £11,500 from the Red Balloon Ball in November 2010 – and the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund who presented a cheque for £100,000 for mesothelioma research.
Delegates ended a busy but interesting day with afternoon tea and entertainment from Newcastle Male Chorus. Our volunteer photographer on the day was Norman Dyson. Exhibition stands provided by Air Liquide, Fisher & Paykell, Irwin Mitchell, Peter Fletcher Associates, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Fresh Smokefree North East, Co Durham Fire Service, Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund and BLF.
LIAM IS CHILDREN’S LUNG CHAMPION
Five children from Branksome Science College in Darlington were invited to represent the North Region at the BLF Children’s Charter event on 2 March in London to present over 15,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street calling for a ban on smoking in cars when children are present. Liam Pape, 12, presented the petition with 4 other BLF Children’s Champions and Dame Helena Shovelton, BLF Chief Executive. The event was featured on BBC Newsround and the school took part in many media interviews throughout the day. Liam was joined by Elizabeth Davey, James Allison, Katie Appleyard and Rebecca Parkinson and teachers Mrs Hickerson and Mr Tearney.
After presenting the petition, Kevin Baron MP for Rotherham hosted a reception tea at the House of Commons and the children met MPs from the region and listened to Anne Milton, Minister for Public Health, give a speech supporting the BLF’s campaign. Everyone had a truly memorable day.
The school also presented Bev Wears, BLF Support and Development Manager with £50 raised from the sale of BLF wrist bands.
BLF NURSES STUDY HARD
For health professionals, learning is a continuous process and our BLF Nurses, many of whom are studying for further respiratory qualifications, also attend study days organised by the British Lung Foundation. In March 23 nurses attended a study day in York on depression in long term conditions. Depression is a common problem in people with lung disease and spotting the signs early and offering support and treatment is important. BLF Nurses attending the day found the course extremely useful and took away lots of information to put into practise in their work with patients.
The BLF has 2 useful booklets on Depression and Anxiety that can be requested through the BLF Helpline 08458 50 50 20 or from the BLF website lunguk.org
New BLF Breathe Easy Group in Hull
A new self-help support group has opened in Hull and holds monthly meetings at the new Orchard Centre on Hall Road. The meetings will take place at Hull Central Library; come along and find out more about what Breathe Easy can offer you. Breathe Easy Hull is a friendly group with lots of information and interesting speakers and gives you an opportunity to join the BLF’s Breathe Easy network and help us raise awareness to thousands of people in the area who have a lung condition. Bring along a friend or family member – everyone welcome – to the next meeting. Meetings are held on the second Friday of each month in Hull Central Library, Albion St, Hull, North Humberside HU1 3TF
Christmas came early for BLF
Newcastle Male Chorus gave Christmas shoppers a treat on 16 December when they performed their annual Carol Concert in Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Newcastle for the British Lung Foundation - £637 was raised in just one hour. Many thanks to the Chorus and our volunteer collectors for their continued support.
Durham Dales launch new Breathe Easy group
BLF is working closely with Caroline Dinsdale, Respiratory Nurse and Sue Jennings from Durham Dales Practice Base Commissioning Cluster to provide support for patients in the Durham Dales region of Co Durham. Breathe Easy Durham Dales was launched on World COPD Day, 17 November, and will hold regular monthly meetings on 1st Thursday of the month between 2.00pm-3.30pm in the Methodist Church, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland DL14 6EN. For further information contact BLF North Region on 0191 2630276.
BLF Angels in North Yorkshire
We are delighted to announce that all four respiratory specialist nurses working in the community across North Yorkshire are now BLF Nurses. Joy Parrington and Judith Norell join Caroline Fletcher as BLF Nurses and Linda Cherry has been appointed in the Scarborough. The BLF “badging” brings with it a host of benefits including specialist training events and support. Caroline, who has been a BLF Nurse for 2 years, is featured in the BLF’s 2010 Christmas Appeal, which has raised over £32,000.
Hull residents offered free lung function testing
The BLF has continued working with NHS Hull to offer residents of Hull free lung function tests at events in convenient locations. This follow up campaign to the first Love Your Lungs campaign in February 2010 took place in September and asked Hull residents to come and have a simple lung function test if they experienced symptoms such as cough, breathlessness, or were a current or ex-smoker. A total of 553 people took the test and 118 were subsequently referred to their GP for further investigation. Local stop smoking services were on hand to offer advice. For more information on the Love Your Lungs campaign in Hull go to http://lunguk.org/blf-services/patient-carers/up_and_coming_events/hull_l_y_l_jany_feb_2010.htm
RED BALLOON BALL - 20 November 2010
This year’s Red Balloon Ball held on 20 November was a tremendous success and raised £11,500 for the BLF’s 25th Anniversary Appeal. Volunteer committee “Friends of BLF” worked extremely hard over many months to arrange this fabulous event that attracted 272 guests to the Marriott Newcastle Gosforth Park Hotel. John Myers compered the evening and the auction was hosted by Peter Stewart. Guests were entertained by live band “The Crosbys” and a fun casino with roulette and blackjack with lucky winner being Angela Crawford. Thank you to everyone who attended and donated prizes or gifts in kind and helped make the event a great evening.
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Red Balloon Ball volunteers at the tombola where everyone wins a prize
