Pauline Treadwell

The new head of the Community Specialist Respiratory team for East Kent, Pauline Treadwell, gave a talk about the work of the team, and the massive extension of its services which she is overseeing. Having taken up her post in April, this was Pauline’s first visit and she has arranged that a member of her clinical staff will be available at our monthly meetings, thus continuing the specialist team’s regular connection with our group.

Pauline has had her work cut out implementing the team’s expansion, and her talk ably illustrated this. Staff have more than doubled, growing from 21 to 52 in a very short time. Plans are in place to ensure patients’ treatment nearer to home, avoiding the problems of hospital admission wherever possible, and specialist nurses will be on hand to give intense support during exacerbations, reassuring information as we go into autumn, with swine flu hovering in the background. COPD and other lung diseases are potentially isolating and depressing and there are now counsellors working to confidential guidelines who are available to help patients experiencing such difficulties.

The seventeen members present put a range of questions to Pauline and her colleagues, Karen and Gemma, who is a newly recruited specialist nurse. Hannah Tucker from the British Lung Foundation was also present and gave a short presentation of the BLF’s guidelines on swine flu. We were also very happy to welcome three new members, all from Canterbury.

Strawberry Tea 2009

Our annual strawberry tea on 8th July was a truly celebratory event with a big turnout.
Twenty seven of our members with their families and friends were joined by five guests from the recently launched Thanet BE group together with three members from the East Kent primary care trust community respiratory team who provide us with so much excellent medical support. Mounds of strawberries and piles of scones with cream and jam were scoffed in lovely weather, to the accompaniment of a 50’s and 60’s soundtrack.

We were particularly delighted to welcome a long time member who now uses oxygen and we would encourage any oxygen users who are feeling isolated at home to brave the outdoors and come to one of our meetings where they can be sure of a very warm welcome.

A successful (and rowdy!) raffle was held and raised seventy pounds to support the work of our Breathe Easy group. We thank our Chair-for-the-day, Tom Elvidge, who did a superb job of M-C-ing the event, and our thanks as always go to our treasurer Carol Hakimian for the use of her beautiful Chestfield garden. Photos by Jean Fraser and Carol.

Walk for Breath

On June 28th members, friends and family of the Breathe Easy Canterbury group came together at Hampton Pier to walk to The Marine Hotel and back. With Cabin Radio providing music at the start and the KD Jazzband leading the way along the seafront it was a joyful occasion for everyone talking part. The KD Jazzband also stopped at several points along the way to provide music and lighten the day for those out enjoying the slopes.

The walk was officially started by Mollie Jackson, the Nurse Manager at The British Lung Foundation. So far £150 has been raised, half of which will go to The British Lung Foundation with more sponsorship money to come in. Our thanks go to the KD Jazzband, Cabin Radio, The Marine Hotel and Mollie Jackson for the success of this event.

Coach Outing

In May our coach trip to Walmer Castle which went well although the weather was not very kind. Whilst waiting for the coach to arrive it poured with rain but once on board everyone was very cheerful (and the new pick-up point in Herne Bay was very popular). By the time we arrived at Walmer there was only a very fine drizzle so we were able to walk around and admire the lovely grounds.
One unusual feature was the way some of the hedges have been cut, different heights and angles even in one length of hedging!
Many also found the both the time and energy to visit a few of the many rooms in the castle, each so full of history.
Just before leaving everyone visited the tea rooms for a drink and sample the selection of cakes which even included bread pudding.

It proved to be a very welcoming venue, in spite of the weather everyone commented on how much they had enjoyed the visit.

More Outing Photos

Beetle Drive

A few days before Easter the group enjoyed a Beetle Drive. Sitting at tables of 3 or 4 we competed to draw the beetle in the fastest time. The first to complete their beetle by getting the right throw of the dice (1 for a head, 2 for a body, and 6 sixes for the legs, etc.) won an Easter Egg and there were a fair few to be won requiring a number of rounds. After each round one person moved on to another table ensuring an afternoon with much mixing and plenty of laughter.

March 2009 - Dr. Pinnock

This month local GP Dr. Hilary Pinnock from Whitstable Medical Centre gave a brilliantly clear and accessible presentation about research into health forecasting for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Several of the fifteen members present had taken part in this project’s feasibility study last winter. Dr. Pinnock, also a research fellow of the University of Edinburgh and well known internationally in the COPD research community, brought us up to date with the project’s progress; it is now to be set up formally as a randomized control trial in the West Country.

Group members asked questions and gave feedback about their own experiences of receiving Met Office’s automated telephone forecasts last year warning them of bad weather and the need to take precautions such as having emergency medication to hand.
We felt privileged to have taken part in the early stages of this research and proud that this useful project has been conceived and piloted at the Whitstable Medical Practice due to Dr. Pinnock’s pioneering research into lung disease. Many of us had not previously known that our local health centre is a research practice accredited with the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Next month’s meeting could not be more different. We will be holding a beetle drive and this will create a great opportunity to welcome new members to our group.