Giving Bronchiectasis patients a COPD label

[Claudine]

My GP explained today that this happens (I know it is a bugbear amongst Bronch sufferers) because of the NHS computer system! It is easier to put it under this label so that the surgery is prompted to call patients in for their annual (?) review/spirometry test etc. otherwise we would slip under the radar and not be kept an eye on. In other words it's not the surgery's fault.

[cofdrop-UK]

Most of us don’t have an annual review at the GPs as most are seen by a respiratory consultant at the hospital. Surely it is not beyond them to find a way of flagging up an annual check without labeling the patient with an incorrect diagnosis. Illustrates just how uninformed they are.

Cx

[Hidden in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I have been diagnosed with COPD for over 12 years. At the time no one knew what that was. I had major problems getting benefits they kept asking me when I was going to get better. At least they know what it is now so probably best to let them call it what they think they understand. Duh. Maybe they will catch up sometime. BTW my GP has always done the review thank goodness as the hospital were rubbish.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Hidden]

Best not. COPD and bronchiectasis are different conditions.

Cx

[Nickcv]

I'm always seen at my GPs surgery, we have a resident respiratory nurse at the practice.

[janice01]

Our insurance company groups it as COPD as well as Asthma. Better for us as all one condition...

[cofdrop-UK]

It comes as no surprise to me that insurance companies are not well informed about bronchiectasis, which has for many years been a neglected condition. I go for an asthma review at the respiratory nurse and they are not well informed about bronchiectasis and usually just give me my flu jab. I do admire the GPs who admit with severe bronchiectasis treatment plans require input from a specialiest in that field. They are much better informed re COPD.

Cx

[Claudine in reply to cofdrop-UK]

It would be interesting sometime to get a travel insurance quote naming Bronchiectasis and then ask what it would be for COPD. I wonder if there would be any difference? Every year I query the nurse's notes that I am there for a 'COPD review' but at least now I know the answer. In fairness the review probably just covers the same thing, i.e. spirometry, weight, blood pressure etc. I have now been referred to a nutritionist - that'll be interesting. I know I eat the right stuff (apart from carbs) but just not enough of it! Let's see how she tackles that one! If she suggests Complan I shall groan that's for sure.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Claudine]

So would I. Good luck Claudine.

Re insurance: I can’t get holiday insurance with bronchiectasis from the company I have my contents wth and was quoted £200, the cheapest anywhere else. I then found out that as I was supposed to be going to europe for the European Respiratory Society and they were going to pay for it, I would be included on their insurance, including pre existing conditions. I couldn’t go due to my GI problems in any event. I think a lot depends on the answers to their rigid questions about how many exacerbations you have had in the previous year etc. Strange really as we are less likely to go to the docs abroad than someone who has an infection who is normally fit and well, as we have our nebulisers and abs and just get on with it. Never applied re COPD as luckily I don’t have it.

Cx