Diagnostic Spirometry Service

Diagnostic test is a breathing test that is conducted to aid with diagnosis and progression of condition. It provides important information how well your lungs are working.  It is a non-invasive procedure.

Supported Discharge Service (SDS)

For patients with COPD to enable them to self-manage their condition

The team provide an in-reach service into the acute hospital ensuring ongoing follow up is continued out into the community following discharge and seen until patient is stable to be discharged.

Asthma/COPD Clinics

Support is provided for COPD and asthma patients to help manage their conditions, optimisation of medication and ensuring they have the correct diagnosis. 

Reviews of difficult to control asthma, preventing frequent GP attendance and A&E through education, support and asthma management plans.

Nebuliser Assessment

If you have been provided with a nebuliser compressor by NELFT, and you are experiencing a functional problem e.g. becomes faulty requires servicing/needs to be returned and also for yearly servicing or please contact: Baywater – 0800 121 4524 or Email: BHLTD.Nebuliser@nhs.net

If you are experiencing difficulties with how to use the nebulizer that has been provided by NELFT, please contact Single Point of Access on 0300 300 1710

Medication for the nebuliser is prescribed by the GP.

Respiratory Nursing Home Visits

Support to patients with chronic respiratory conditions

The team provides clinical input and advice to patients, regarding their treatment and management, ensuring optimisation of that treatment and improved understanding of their condition. We develop self-management plans with the patient with the aim of reducing the risk of exacerbation and to help to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions.

For patients who are reaching the end of their life, we work in liaison with the palliative care team, EPIC team and DNs, ensuring choices, plans and preferred place of care are recorded and completed where appropriate.

Suction

If you have been provided with a suction device by NELFT, and you are experiencing a functional problem with this suction e.g. it has become faulty, it requires servicing or you need to return the suction device, please contact:

Medequip UK Ltd.
Woodford Green Branch
Tel: 0208 709 7050
Email: woodford@medequip-uk.com

If you are experiencing difficulties with how you should use the suction device or require consumable parts (including Yankeaurs / tubing or filters etc.) please contact Single Point of Access on 0300 300 1710 who can direct you to the appropriate team.

Oxygen Service

Oxygen assessments for long-term home oxygen and ambulatory oxygen, support for all patients using oxygen within the Waltham Forest borough.

Ambulatory oxygen assessments take place at The Jane Atkinson Health & Wellbeing Centre.  These are often completed in liaison with or jointly with the Pulmonary Rehab team. 

Long-term oxygen assessments tend to take place in the patient’s home.

Capillary blood gas tests to support sleep apnoea assessments are done at the Jane Atkinson Health & Wellbeing Centre.

All oxygen equipment is  supplied and serviced by Air Liquide.

Patients can contact the Air-Liquide helpline for details. There is no cost for this service within the UK

• https://www.airliquidehomecare.co.uk / Tel: 0808 143 9991
• Email: patientsupport@airliquidehomehealth.co.uk

Air Liquide (Homecare) Ltd
Alpha House
Wassage Way
Hampton Lovett
Droitwich
WR9 0NX

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary, evidenced based program of exercise and education for people with a long-term lung condition designed to reduce symptoms of breathlessness, PR can:

• improve your muscle strength so you can use the oxygen you breathe more efficiently and become less breathless
• help you cope better with feeling out of breath
• improve your fitness so you feel more confident to do everyday tasks
• help you feel better mentally
• help you understand and manage your condition better.

PR helps you manage your condition and makes you feel better, but it’s not a cure. You’re unlikely to see a change in your lung function, so you may not see a difference in breathing test results. What it can do is help you make the most of the lung function that you have. There’s evidence that it improves your ability to walk further, helps you feel less tired and breathless doing day-to-day activities and reduces your risk of ending up in hospital.

The exercise program is supervised, progressive and will be tailored for you, to allow you to take part and gain the benefits. The education sessions are designed to help you understand your condition and manage your symptoms to improve your quality of life.

It is a group session, twice weekly for approx. 2 hours each session, with a minimum of 12 sessions.

This is an opportunity to network with your peers and learn from others who have similar health situations.

Completing a course of Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a good way to learn how to exercise safely and at the right level for you.

We are aware that sometimes people have other medical problems or more than one health issue that may limit what they are able to do; the exercises can be adapted to fit you personally.

Programs days, times, and current locations currently offered and subject to change.

You will also be invited in prior to starting the class for a pre-assessment to complete a full assessment and ensure you are safe to start exercising.

Location

Chingford	St Anne’s Church - ‘Main Hall’ 200 Larkshall Road Chingford E4 6NP	Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
Leytonstone	Cathall / Leytonstone Leisure Centre ‘Sports Hall’ Cathall Rd Leytonstone London E11 4LA	Monday and Wednesday afternoons

Recommended links

Asthma and Lung UK (Formally the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK)

• https://www.blf.org.uk/
• Helpline: 0300 222 5800

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

Free service for people living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), their family and carers.

• Call  0300 222 5800
• https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis-ipf/support

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis

• https://actionpf.orgTel: 01223 785 725
• Email: supportline@actionpf.org
• For support group enquiries, please get in touch with our Support Group Enquiries email or phone Jo Ruck joann@actionpf.org mobile – 07376 321 666

Asbestosis UK

• https://www.asbestosis.org.uk/
• Email: info@asbestosis.org.uk  
• Tel: 0800 833 099

Sarcoidosis UK

Our lines are normally open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm.

• Call us on: 020 3389 7221 or 0800 014 8821 (Freephone)
• info@sarcoidosisuk.orghttps://www.sarcoidosisuk.org/

Bronchiectasis

Living your life with Bronchiectasis website

• http://bronchiectasis.me/

Research studies

• https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/

Clinical trials

• https://bioresource.nihr.ac.uk/volunteer/volunteers/
• https://trials.eu-ipff.org/
• https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk/

Air Pollution Health Advice

• Remind signup : https://www.airtext.info/signup 
• For more information visit https://www.airtext.info/health or https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/?question=61

NHS 111

• https://111.nhs.uk/
• NHS 111 or 999

Check you inhaler technique

• https://www.rightbreathe.com/

Anxiety and depression

The local IAPT services are also there to listen. 

• https://www.talkingtherapies.nelft.nhs.uk/waltham-forest
• Phone to refer yourself for Talking Therapies 0300 300 1554 option 4, 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday

Benefits

Age UK Advice

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/walthamforest/

• Office opening times: Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 4:00pm Friday 9:30am to 2:00pm
• Address: Age UK Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Resource Hub (North), 58 Hall Lane, Chingford, E4 8EU Phone: 020 8558 5512,
• Email: info@ageukwalthamforest.org.uk
• Citizens Advice – Support with Claiming Benefits
• https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/  
• Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848
• Personal Independence Payment for under 65 years old - https://www.gov.uk/pip
• Attendance Allowance for over 65 years old - https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
• Motability Scheme – https://www.motability.co.uk/
• Blue Badge – Helpline 0343 100 1000 https://www.gov.uk/blue-badge-scheme-information-council  
• Prescription costs - https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/get-help-with-prescription-costs/

For further advice regarding benefits from CAB, Age UK or the BLF.

Heating costs

• Winter Fuel Payments – Born on or before5 August 1953; www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim
• Warm Home Discount Scheme – Helpline 0345 603 9439
• HEET – London Borough Waltham Forest, free assessment for anyone with a lung condition living in WF, provides insulation, draft proofing and heating work, advice on saving energy, fuel bills and fuel debt Tel: 020 8 520 1900 https://www.theheetproject.org.uk/ or email  info@theheetproject.org.uk

Carers                  

• https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/waltham-forest/welcome/#welcome
• Helpline: 0300 303 1555
• Email: hello@carersfirst.org.uk

Waltham Forest Stop Smoking Service

• If you live or work in Waltham Forest, you can get FREE, confidential advice, information and support to help you stop smoking.
• This service is provided by Queen Mary, University of London and includes:
• A 12-week plan with support from a trained practitioner.
• Weekly Nicotine Replacement Therapy - and Zyban.
• Telephone and/or digital support. Face-to-face help may also be available.
• Assistance is also available in English, Bengali, Urdu, Gujarati and Lithuanian.
• Contact 020 7882 8230 or 0800 169 1943
• clinicbookings@qmul.ac.uk
• https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/alcohol-drugs-and-smoking/quitting-smoking
• https://quitrightwf.org/

For other information on smoking cessation you can look up:

 

• ttps://www.stopsmokinglondon.com/ - Smoking Helpline 0300 123 1044
• https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/help-and-advice/support - You don't have to quit smoking alone. It's much easier to do it with the right information, advice and support.
• https://quitnow.smokefree.nhs.uk/ - Sign up for 28 days of free quitting advice and tips straight to your inbox to increase your chance of success!

The Lung Club

The Club is run by volunteers who work from home.

• Tel: Ronnie, 0208 989 5546 or Jan, 0208 558 3361
• Email: thelungclub@talktalk.net  

The Lung Club provides support for people with all lung conditions and their carers. They can also provide emergency equipment e.g. oxygen if required.

• When - Last Tuesday of every month with the exception of December, between 1pm-3:30pm
• Venue - Chandos Centre, Colegrave Road, Stratford, E15 1DZ
• Cost - People attending pay £2 on the day which entitles them to refreshments and a free raffle ticket.

Organ donation

• https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/register-your-details/