Learning events

Your Breathing Matters – online learning sessions open to all

We asked people who live with respiratory conditions, and their families, what they thought would help them to live as well as possible and they told us that they’d like to be able meet members of their respiratory healthcare team, learn from them and be able to ask questions outside of clinical settings.

In response, we are now planning to hold regular online sessions focused on “living well with your respiratory condition and symptoms”. Sessions will be offered every month or 6 weeks, with each session having a different focus, and led by respiratory and self-management specialists from the NHS and 3rd sector. Sessions will always include the opportunity to ask questions, either in advance (by email) or during the session itself. There is no need to speak unless you want to.

Videos and presentations from previous sessions (more details below)

Healthy Home - Healthy Humidity and Air Quality - A Self Help Guide - a talk by Donnie Mackay, Energy Advice Services Manager with Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, looking at helping your respiratory condition by having healthy air quality and humidity in your home (Session 2 - Apr'22)

Breathing, Thinking and Functioning - a talk by Michelle Duffy, Specialist Respiratory Nurse (Session 1 - Feb'22)

Let's Get On With It Together - a talk by Joanne McCoy, LGOWIT (Session 1 - Feb'22)

Your Breathing Matters – full programme of sessions

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We are busy putting together a full programme of Your Breathing Matters sessions for the rest of 2022, each with a different focus. The sessions will be hosted by Michelle Duffy, one of NHS Highland's specialist respiratory nurses. Look out for updates, as speakers are confirmed.

Date

Topic

Speakers

June 21^st

1-2pm

COPD – what it is and what it means for us

Singing for Lung Health – the Cheyne Gang

Dr Lorna Murray, respiratory consultant

tbc

August 23^rd

1-2pm

Asthma – the value of personal action plans in keeping you well

Are you getting the most out of your finances and entitlements? It’s surprising how many of us aren’t

Corinne Clark, respiratory nurse specialist

Highland Council Income Maximisation Team

October 25^th

1-2pm

Are you getting the best from your inhalers?

How can use Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to help me keep well?

Respiratory Pharmacist

Debbie Sutherland, community support services manager CHSS

December 7^th

1-2pm

Are you winter ready?

NHS Highland community respiratory nurse team

You are welcome to sign up for just one session, or all of them, depending on your needs and interests. If you would like to suggest other topics, please let us know at: nhsh.communityrespiratoryteam@nhs.scot

Sessions will be continuing beyond 2022, with topics likely to include:

Support groups available in the Highlands and how they can help
Identifying and managing anxiety and looking after your mental wellbeing
Pulmonary rehab – what it is and why it is important
Respiratory conditions – diagnosis, treatment, progression
Advice about discussing what matters to me and advanced care planning
What to do when you have a flare up – medication and other interventions
What you should expect from your GP and practice nurse
How the specialist respiratory nurses work & what they have to offer
When to call an ambulance & how the paramedics decide what to do next
How housing can impact on your respiratory health and what to do about it
Introducing you to the Highland’s peer support groups
Advice about healthy eating including food choices, frequency, portion size
Coping with loss and bereavement
Caring for somebody with a respiratory condition and taking care of yourself

Technology: The Your Breathing Matters sessions will use the Near Me group video conferencing technology – which is very simple to use. All you need is:

PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet
Reliable internet connection
Chrome or Safari internet browser

For more information about using Near Me, please visit the national Near Me website, where you will find an FAQ and technical information. There is local Near Me information at: NHS Highland - Near Me and you can make a test call at: Near Me Test Call

Limited places: Only 30 people can attend each session, with places allocated on a first come first served basis – so book your place early, to avoid disappointment. If you aren't able to attend on the day, please let us know as soon as possible, so your place can be offered to someone else.

Your Breathing Matters - 3rd session - Tuesday 21st June 1pm-2pm

Session 3 - COPD - what it is and what it means for us - Dr Lorna Murray (respiratory consultant) and Singing for Lung Health with the Cheyne Gang

Visit Eventbrite to book your place at this Your Breathing Matters by following this link: https://bit.ly/YBM-2022-3

Date and time: Wednesday 21st June at 1pm to 2pm

Hosts: Your host for this online learning session will be Michelle Duffy, one of our specialist respiratory nurses, and she will be joined by:

Lorna Murray Respiratory Consultant - who will be talking about living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD, what it is, what causes it and how it can affect people. She will discuss some of the best therapies and how people can get the most from these to keep well. The session will be a great opportunity to ask questions and to find out more.what it is and what it means for us
Anne Ritchie and the Cheyne Gang - a group of people living with chronic lung conditions who practice singing to improve their lung health. We are delighted to welcome them in opening this session.

Technology: The session will use the Near Me group video conferencing technology – which is very simple to use. All you need is:

PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet
Reliable internet connection
Chrome or Safari internet browser

We’ll send you some more details and the link you’ll use to join the session on the day

Limited places: Only 30 people can attend each session, with places allocated on a first come first served basis – so book your place now. If you aren't able to attend on the day, please let us know as soon as possible, so your place can be offered to someone else.

Your Breathing Matters – videos and presentations from previous sessions

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Session two - 20th April 2022 - managing your cough and helping your home to breathe

Hosts: Your host for this Your Breathing Matters online learning session was Michelle Duffy, one of our specialist respiratory nurses, with talks from

Jude Colligan, Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist - who will be talking about managing your cough and ways to cough effectively to keep your chest clear - video to follow

Talk by Donny Mackay, Energy Advice Services Manager, Skye & Lochalsh Housing Association about about ways to look after the air you breathe: helping your home to breathe can help your breathing

Towards a Healthy Home - Managing Dampness, Humidity and Air Quality - a presentation from Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association (Session 2 - Apr'22) - NOTE: to access the presentation, click on Search HPAC and enter Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association and then click on the image of the presentation, scroll down and click on "Open_x2HSG003x1.pdf", to open the presentation.

Session one - 23rd February 2022 - Learning to live well with breathlessness

Hosts: Your host for the first Your Breathing Matters online learning session were Michelle Duffy, one of our specialist respiratory nurses, and Joanne McCoy, who is a specialist in supported self management with Let’s Get On With It Together (LGOWIT).

Details: In this session we focused on one of the most common and distressing respiratory symptoms, which is experienced by many people every day - breathlessness.

Breathing, Thinking and Functioning - a presentation by Michelle Duffy, one of NHS Highland's Specialist Respiratory Nurses, given during the Your Breathing Matters online learning session on 23rd February 2022. The presentation focuses on managing breathlessness.

Presentation by Joanne McCoy of LGOWIT given during the Your Breathing Matters online learning session on 23rd February 2022. The presentation focuses on self-management tips and skills.

Hints and Tips Shared by Patients at Your Breathing Matters Sessions

Take out your phone and read a few texts or take some photos to distract you and help you feel calm Carry a plastic bag in your pocket so you can put it down and sit anywhere whenever you need a rest Let those you are with know when you need to take a rest and focus on your breathing

What do you think about the Respiratory Resource Hub?

Please go to our brief feedback survey to tell us what you think about the Respiratory Resource Hub. We would particularly like to know if you think any information is missing, or there are other topics you would like the resource hub to cover.