STOCKPORT COPD TEAM Information Leaflet Your Health. Our Priority.
Page 2 of 5 This leaflet has been produced to help answer some of the questions that you and those who care for you may have about the Stockport COPD Team Who we are Stockport COPD Team is a team of Specialist Nurses, Respiratory Physiotherapists, Assistant Practitioner and Respiratory Physiologist. We also have a Specialist GP that works with us every Thursday as well as input from a Prescribing Advisory Pharmacist All of the team are specialists within COPD and have extensive experience in caring for patients suffering from respiratory disease from diagnosis and through all stages of the disease Services we offer If you are admitted to hospital as a result of your COPD, we offer an Early Supported Discharge Service. If deemed medically suitable for discharge, you will receive home visits from the COPD Nurses, or alternatively, the option to come into our nurse clinic at Kingsgate House. We will monitor your recovery until you are showing improvement. This can mean that you have input from the COPD Nurses for 2-3 weeks We also aim to avoid you being admitted to hospital in the first place. Once you have been on the COPD caseload, you have the option in the future to refer yourself back to us if you are becoming unwell as a result of your COPD. You can do this by telephoning us and leaving a message on our answer machine we always strive to return the call the same day (Mon-Fri). You can of course still telephone your GP. If it is out-of-hours or at the weekend, then we advise you contact Mastercall We have a weekly COPD Clinic. If you are referred into this clinic you would be reviewed by our Specialist GP and a Nurse or Physiotherapist if deemed necessary. You may also have lung function tests (breathing tests) performed by our Respiratory Physiologist We run the Oxygen Assessment Service in Stockport (OASiS). This means that if you have oxygen you will be reviewed by OASiS the frequency of this will depend on the type of oxygen therapy that you have We run Pulmonary Rehabilitation. This is an 8 week exercise programme (twice a week) for people with breathing problems run by our Respiratory Physiotherapists and Assistant Practitioner. It involves prescribed exercise as well as education about COPD. It is now running in 2 locations Kingsgate House and the Arthur Greenwood Centre in Woodley We offer patient education this can range from self-management of COPD, review of respiratory medications, help to give up smoking if needed, and dietary advice. We will assess what it is that you need as an individual We also strive to provide support with symptom management and control at the end stages of the disease process. This can often mean support that also includes your GP, Practice Nurse and District Nurses.
Page 3 of 5 Frequently asked questions If I am at home, who should I contact if I have a problem? If you are generally unwell, your first contact will always be your GP. The Stockport COPD Team only works Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm and we are not an emergency service. We will aim to return your call as soon as possible but there is no guarantee this will be immediately. We are happy to be contacted if you need advice about your chest or breathing but should not be contacted if it is an emergency. Will a nurse visit every day? Not necessarily. The frequency and amount of visits that you receive will be dictated by your overall condition and the progress that you are making. You have given me a nebuliser, will I keep it? You will only keep your nebuliser if this is existing treatment that you are on. Under normal circumstances, our aim is to wean you off the nebuliser gradually and back onto your inhaled treatment. The main reason for this is so that you may have the nebuliser in the future if you are unwell and find it beneficial. We try to avoid it becoming a treatment that you have every day except in certain circumstances. Now I am under your care, does that mean I do not need to see my GP anymore? No your GP remains your primary caregiver. All of the care that we give you will be relayed to your GP so that he is aware of our involvement and your progress. Can you guarantee that I will not have to be admitted to hospital again? This cannot be guaranteed in every situation but in appropriate circumstances we will help you to start treatment early if you are unwell with your COPD and hope this will mean you do not need to be admitted How do I get to go on Pulmonary Rehabilitation? You can be referred by your GP or Practice Nurse. Your COPD Nurse can also refer you. There is also the option that you can refer yourself by contacting the pulmonary rehabilitation team on 0161 426 5415. For you to be able to attend our pulmonary rehabilitation, you must be registered with a GP that is within Stockport Does everybody who has COPD need oxygen? No oxygen is needed for some patients with COPD who meet certain clinical criteria, but not by everybody with COPD. It is common to receive oxygen if you are in an ambulance or when admitted to hospital but this is often only a temporary measure until your condition improves. What if I am unwell over the weekend? You should contact the Out-of-hours service Mastercall (0161 476 2299) who will triage your phonecall and decide whether you need to see a Doctor or go to hospital.
Page 4 of 5 Contact us The Stockport COPD Team and Oxygen Assessment Service in Stockport (OASiS) work Monday Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays) You can contact the team by leaving a message on the answer machine 0161 426 9613. Every effort will be made to return this call the same day. We are based at Kingsgate House, Wellington Road North. Our COPD clinics, nurse clinics and oxygen clinics all run from Kingsgate House on 2 nd Floor. The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team can be contacted on 0161 426 5415 and this runs from 1 st Floor of Kingsgate House and the main hall of the Arthur Greenwood Centre at Woodley. At weekends or bank holidays we would recommend that you contact out of hours Mastercall on 0161 476 2299. Helpful links We have made a podcast that you can look at to make sure that you are taking your inhalers properly: http://wires.wessexhiecpartnership.org.uk/video-series/inhaler-technique/ We have a link on youtube to show you what coming to pulmonary rehabilitation entails: http://youtu.be/uqn3tfnk-ts The British Lung Foundation (BLF) are the charity relating to all lung disease and has lots of useful information: email : enquiries@blf-uk.org or website: www.lunguk.org Comments, Compliments and Complaints We welcome your comments about our service. We will listen to your comments and concerns and we will act on any issues you raise. You will not be discriminated against for making a complaint and we appreciate your feedback. You can contact us direct or contact Patient & Customer Services. If you would like to make any suggestions or complaints, Patient & Customer Services can be contacted on: Tel: 0161 419 5678 Fax: 0161 419 5296 Email: pcs@stockport.nhs.uk Website: We understand that this can be an emotional, upsetting time for patients, carers and families. However, as patients have a right to be treated with dignity and respect whilst they are under our care, our staff have a right to work free from fear of assault or abuse. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust operates a Zero Tolerance Policy with regards to abuse or violent behaviour.
Page 5 of 5 If you would like this leaflet in a different format, for example, in large print, or on audiotape, or for people with learning disabilities, please contact: Patient and Customer Services, Poplar Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital. Tel: 0161 419 5678 Information Leaflet. Email: PCS@stockport.nhs.uk. Our smoke free policy Smoking is not allowed anywhere on our sites. Please read our leaflet 'Policy on Smoke Free NHS Premises' to find out more. Leaflet number MED106 Publication date December 2014 Review date December 2016 Department COPD Location Kingsgate House, Stockport