UK health check

Hi all

It seems COPD is not dealt with well in the UK ... why is that?

Check the table at the bottom of this link

BLF Jo .. can you explain these statistics as they seem to be quite bad

bbc.co.uk/news/health-21667065

Bolilly

[Hidden]

A lot of that in my opinion is just plane and simple cost cutting .

(Some comments removed by moderator as discussing a completely different issue which would be best discussed on another post - Daz has been informed)

As your link shows is a nation of sick

Great post all the best

[Hidden]

since this was my post in the first place .....I would like to say to 'moderator' .... what is it Daz said that was presumably unacceptable ..... is this a whole new area of censorship?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi @Bolilly yes mod was correct a just had rant about LCP littering your post up he just pointed out i could raise subject on question wall

All the best

[fishtail]

hi bolilly, cant get on to the link.???

[martin1945]

Frankly, I don't believe that any country around the World treat those of us with COPD or any lung disease for that matter, very well. Big E sufferers are especially prone to be ignored as, unless we are having an attack, we otherwise look like any normal healthy human being! With the rise in the incidence of COPD partly because of an aging population the pharmaceutical companies are going into overdrive to develop new treatments. Unfortunately, many are not worth the effort or only work at the margin. Equally, unfortunately is the motivation - sales rather than patient benefit. A review of trials indicates to me that many pharm companies seek to have drugs approved after only limited testing - especially true when a pharm company is about to have its high-earning drugs come out of patent. The hope is, regrettably, that with the increase of suffers (and as voters), governments will see that investing more money in R&D will be more beneficial in the early treatment of disease (or even cure) rather than the cost incurred in the late stages of treatment. Recent statistics have some 230 million sufferers of COPD worldwide - but that this figure may be understated by up to 90%

Well thats my contribution for today. Have a nice day!

[Hidden in reply to martin1945]

In short we have become what banks term as liabilitys

But like thay say this is a road we will all walk down at one point or other thats ehy NHS and Freedom of speech .... A uk invention i might ad is best in the world

[Dasis]

Cost of treatment was a bigger worry than the toll in lives cut short, probably me with the wrong priorities here !

Is this less of a problem when the sick are past working age, the government want pensioners for less time the reason for moving pension age.

[Hidden in reply to Dasis]

Very valid point issue i don't think your wrong and news headlines prove your point ... Its like councils closing those services where is axe falling

[PollyP]

Many of you have written in these blogs of less than comprehensive care from your Primary Care Services, GP etc. and until I became educated about my condition so was I. As far as COPD is concerned there are NICE guidelines for the treatment of COPD, which it seems are not always followed. And as far as a national response is concerned it was only due to demand from ourselves and the BLF that the government recently changed their position and gave us a Strategic Clinical Network-hurrah!

In 2005 I became very ill with pneumonia and was very let down by a locum GP who mis diagnosed me with 'meningism' ! And gave me no treatment and sent me home. Two days later I had to admit myself to hospital via A & E. where I spent two weeks, had my lungs washed out and had IV and Oral Antibiotics.

So personally, I have no desire to become a future victim to ignorance and sloppy clinical work ups.

Yes I brought about my own lung disease by smoking, and therefore I do all I can now to keep myself well.

If you would like better care, I urge you all to learn as much about our condition as you can, so you can be assertive about meeting your own health care needs. Keep yourself as well as you possibly can. Eat healthily and exercise as much as you can even if is from a chair or a bed and take medication as prescribed.

Politically, bother your MP, ( you can do this online) and support the BLF in their work to gain research and even better provision of health care.

I am sure all you folk with other lung disease , eg IPF etc will perhaps feel able to do the same.

Good Luck

[richardcrossroads in reply to PollyP]

i think you hit the point right on the head, take control of your liife and keep both eyes on the GP and the hospitals, there is no one who knows your condition better than you

richard

[Hidden in reply to PollyP]

very well put.the now and past governments have done nothing about this forgotten illness copd.they should now 100 per cent throw everything at research into it .there is a cure out there.we need now to lobby full on non stop relentlessly. now. and show the government we are not going away on this .the cure now .the seem to treat drug users. and alcolics better .why is that .any answer .and please start now lobby and lobby the government.i read a proffesor peter barnes head of respitory unit at imperial college harrogate is holding a conference in april 6th i think on tests done for copd.he as been researching treatments and cures for this.he seems a very sincere man looking to help all of us copd sufferers.googl professor peter barnes imperial college harrogate .i have .we can all live with hope nothing wrong there

[PollyP in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Caroll,

I will be Googling Prof Peter Barnes for sure!

[Hidden in reply to PollyP]

hi pollyp did u google p p barnes

[Hidden]

that is so very 100 per cent true.keep eye on gp.and hospitals.my gp ignored my xray2012 as no action needed.and unknown to me it said copd.xmas2012 i was very ill with chronic bronchitis.a new locum got me a ct scan urgent it showed there.10 wk i ad pains throught out all my bodys bones agony.went to see gp.paid for my med files,thats when i say xray 2012. i was very angry and upset. told gp why u ignored xray.well u stopped smoking now u be fine.i said ive looked up copd.it says sooner u cease smoking better it is.well i would av ceased 13 month back full stop not 4 month back now i no.and u no i started smoking again in 2010 when i was looking after my eldest brother 7month day and night with mesothalmila.that was stressful 24 7.i have changed my gp and consulted a solicator about gp .my spimetry test was 67.didnt even explain anything to me him or nurse what did it.what a shambles and this is england.i am ashamed sometime of being english

[Hidden]

Chilling figures when respiratory health will loose it's SCN (Strategic Clinical Network) this year.

[PollyP in reply to Hidden]

I thought a SCN was back on the agenda? But I could be wrong?

[katieoxo60]

These are chilling figures, only likely to get worse when the new changes come in this year. Have to say respiratory disease as always appeared to be at the bottom of the priority lists. Blfs recent campaigns have highlighted the need for change, but with all the proposed changes by the government in respect of the NHS future,I think respiratory care will once again be overlooked especially as there is no cure only costly management. However the cost is no worse than many other chronic illnesses and as already mentioned treatment of addictions like drug abuse and alcholism.We must continue to support Blfs campaigns to support respiratory patients, I personally also support Asthma UK who campaign for better respiratory services.

[Hidden in reply to katieoxo60]

Supporting campaigns and contacting MP's asking for recognition that there is an elephant in the room are silenced by the axe removing the services we complain of as inadequate. Must fight on it is better than doing nothing.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

oh yes im not going away.i will open my mouth when and were and to whoever.the treatment for copd sufferers is chaotic and a shambles ear in oldham were i live.my ex gp well the least said.hes fit for ignoring xrays till ppl get chronic bronchitus.9 month didnt tell me bout my xray.he sorry now he sats.dont think he nos how to spell that ever increasing word what every gp r medical ppl r whoever messes up.that word to me from the likes of them means zero.dont no if any of my fellow an ladies with copd will agree with me .really made me upset an angry his atitude.oh u stopped smoking wont go any worse am moderate .what does he no if he cant read an xray.i told him what i thought.what did he say.them 3 words guess wat they were.didnt explain my spimetry reading its 67.didnt giv me advice on diet etc etc.an googled it myself.diet exercize weather etc.but dont understand 67.any 1 knows pleaz say even if u only think thank u .im 63 female.3 daughter 1 son.11 grandchildren 2 of them 12 an 14 live with me.also i have a littl treasured great grandaughter aged 2.ray of sunshine even in winter.take care all copd sufferers keep the hope in yous all.and we must lobby and lobby government .any ideas how to start pleaz write on ear and say.then we will start relentlessly

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

u say how and im with u

[PollyP in reply to Hidden]

Too true millstone ! Keep speaking up eh?

[Hidden in reply to katieoxo60]

hi.im new on hear.im moderate copd.id never heard of copd b4.yes ive always noticedon the news and papers helping with alcolics. drug users.but never ppl with copd.hence thats why i never heard of it.we should lobby and lobby .till there sick of us and do something.any advice

[PollyP]

Caroll,

Lobby your MP, easy to do, look up MP's name on the Internet and it should give you a

contact email ? Email your concerns and ask for more recognition for Lung Disease- all of it, not just COPD. Lung cancer survival numbers are poor compared with other cancers.

Good Luck!

[Hidden]

Hi

The NHS in England is recruting for a national clinical director for respiratory disease - this is a result of campaigning by the BLF and it's members.

As you are aware, in July 2012, the NHS decided not to create a "strategic clinical network" for respiratory disease when funding for existing networks ends this year. The current respiratory networks have been hugely successful in improving care for people with lung disease since they were created 2 years ago. The decision not to replace them with an SCN was very worrying.

So now in response to lots of BLF members contacting their MP's etc. the new clinical director is being appointed - to prevent lung disease falling down the list of priorities at the NHS.

So watch this space for furtehr developments - and news of who the new clinical dircetor will be.

Thanks

Mark

[KingoftheCocktails]

Thank you Mark for that information

Richard