Do you have a lung condition and live in the Durham Dales area? Why not come along to a new support group established for people just like you?
The Breathe Easy Group meets on the first Thursday of the month at the Methodist Church in Bishop Auckland at 2pm. The next meeting takes place on Thursday 3 February 2011.
The group is a patient-led respiratory support group supported by Caroline Dinsdale, a Respiratory Specialist Nurse with County Durham and Darlington Community Health Services.
The group is funded by the Durham Dales Integrated Care Pilot, working together with the British Lung Foundation.
Sue Blackett is a member of the group and is urging anyone with a lung condition to come along to meetings. She said: “You will definitely get something from it. You will get the opportunity to talk to other people who have the same problem as you have and also it is a great way to get tips on how to manage your condition better.”
Guest speakers will be invited to the meetings to talk about subjects such as nutrition and physiotherapy. As a patient-led group, members will decide who they would like to invite and the focus of each meeting. The group is also planning to arrange trips out, away days and lunches to add a social element for members.
Caroline Dinsdale, Respiratory Specialist Nurse said: “Breathe Easy Groups throughout the UK provide a fantastic support network for people with respiratory disease and their carers. “This is a great opportunity for people in the Durham Dales to meet with others who face similar problems, providing support, education and a social network in an informal setting.
“I urge anyone with a chronic lung problem and their family or carers to come along to the first meeting and support the Breathe Easy Group to make it a success.”
For more information, contact Sue Jennings or Vikki Reed on 01388 660995 or susan.jennings1@nhs,net