Invitation to love your lungs

The British Lung Foundation (BLF) is working with NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (NHS HMR CCG) to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the local area as part of the BLF ‘Love Your Lungs’ campaign.

Those who have had a persistent cough for three weeks or more, or feel breathless or wheezy, are encouraged to come along to one of the six ‘Love Your Lungs’ events taking place across Rochdale borough in September to speak to the respiratory nurses who will be on hand to provide free advice, information and lung function tests.

Research suggests that there are an estimated 3.7 million people with COPD in the UK, yet only 900,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease. Research conducted for the British Lung Foundation has shown that people in Rochdale borough are 28% more likely to be admitted to hospital with COPD than the England average.

Dr Simon Rhodes, NHS HMR CCG Clinical Lead for COPD, said: “Many don’t think about their lung health until it becomes a problem, so we are inviting everyone in the Rochdale borough who has felt breathless or has a persistent cough to come down and join us.

“If people have any of these symptoms it may be nothing, but it’s always best to get checked out as soon as possible to catch anything at the earliest stage.”

Love your Lungs events:

12th September 2012 – Heywood – Phoenix Centre, 10am-4pm
13th September 2012 – Middleton – Club 3000 Bingo, 2pm-8pm
19th September 2012 – Rochdale – Mecca Bingo, 6pm-9pm
20th September 2012 – Rochdale – Wheatsheaf Centre, 10am-4pm
26th September 2012 – Middleton – Middleton Bus Station, 10am-4pm
27th September 2012 – Rochdale – ASDA, 10am-4pm