31 January 2011
The British Lung Foundation (BLF) has appointed a voluntary advisor to its Nurse programme in plans that will help take care for patients with respiratory disease to new heights.
Chris Fehrenbach has joined the BLF as Honorary Nurse Advisor and will provide clinical support to the BLF nurses and advise on the development of their education and training programme. The role will mean all 66 BLF Nurses are offering the very best care to lung disease patients.
Bringing a wealth of experience to the BLF, Chris has worked in respiratory nursing for the duration of her career. After joining the RAF at 18 years old to start her training she quickly moved up the ranks and got her first full time role in a hospital intensive care unit. She then went into general practice and ran respiratory clinics. Chris is now retired but joins the BLF as an advisor after 17 years of holding the Matron position for Respiratory services in Portsmouth Hospital – one of the largest trusts in the country.
Chris said: “I’ve always worked with respiratory patients and I find it really rewarding - they often get a really bad deal. I’m really looking forward to taking this role on and meeting the BLF Nurses, and giving something back to the profession. I hope to be able to continue the success of the programme and, in turn, provide better care for lung disease patients.”
Aside from her professional successes throughout her career, Chris was also the first ever nurse to be elected on the British Thoracic Society Council. Here she served on the Standards of Care Committee and the Education Committee. This achievement was unheard of at the time as only hospital consultants were allowed to sit on the council. It meant that nurses were given a platform and were able to act as the ‘voice’ for patients.
Kath Leach, Head of National Projects at the BLF, said: “We have developed a very successful BLF Nurse programme and I’m now looking forward to working with Chris to build on our success and improve the care that is available for everyone affected by lung disease.
“There are around eight million people in the UK who are affected by lung disease and we are here to support every one of them through programmes like this one and also through our website and helpline, 08458 50 50 20.”
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