Professor Richard Russell
Chair of the Board of Trustees, British Thoracic Society
Winter can be a magical time. However, for many, it is a time of worry, especially about their respiratory health.
More than one in five people in the UK will need treatment for diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia in their lifetime.1
How respiratory illness affects everyone
During the winter months, hospital admissions for respiratory infections double, and we are all at risk. Respiratory illness is distressing for patients and their families and puts immense pressure on the NHS.
Ways to prevent respiratory diseases
The British Thoracic Society (BTS) is committed to supporting respiratory healthcare professionals to care for people with lung disease and preventing as much ill health as possible. Here are five ways respiratory clinicians and patients can take action to prevent disease.
- Support with tobacco dependency
Stopping smoking will improve a person’s health, no matter how long they have smoked. Healthcare professionals should offer support to all patients who smoke, and tobacco dependency services should be freely available. - Taking simple steps to prevent illness
Individuals with respiratory diseases should practice good hand hygiene, wear a face mask in crowded areas and stay warm on colder days.Keeping up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations is essential and effective - Access to early diagnosis and treatment
An early diagnosis of a respiratory disease enables individuals to receive the correct treatment, reducing the risk of disease progression and the impact of winter. If respiratory specialists have access to the right tests to diagnose and treat people with a lung condition, then patients will experience fewer symptoms and are less likely to need hospital admission. - Regular reviews of treatment plans
People with chronic respiratory disease should have yearly reviews to ensure they are receiving the right treatment, are taking medicines and inhalers correctly and know what action to take if they become unwell. - Support for patients to leave the hospital as soon as they are able
Supported care at home, delivered by Hospital at Home teams and via Virtual Wards, can help people avoid extended hospital stays. They provide care at home at a time of vulnerability and worry.
Individuals with respiratory diseases should practice good hand hygiene,
wear a face mask in crowded areas and stay warm on colder days.
With proper diagnostics, good planning and preventive measures, the burden of respiratory infections and NHS winter pressures can be eased and avoided. BTS will continue to work with NHS leaders to support clinicians and patients over the winter period.
[1] NHS England. Respiratory Disease. Retrieved from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/respiratory-disease/
