Our lead Respiratory Nurse Specialist, Kate Gillett, is currently undertaking a research internship with the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex in preparation for her PhD.
As part of her internship, Kate is doing a literature review to identify and characterise the evidence for specialist nurse led services in primary and community-based care for patients with chronic respiratory disease.
She was asked to present her poster at the recent Association of Respiratory Nurses (ARNS) conference in Brighton in May of this year, demonstrating her research process.
Following the fall of Kabul in August 2021, the Living Well GP Partnership (LWP) in Southampton took on the crucial role of providing primary care to 116 Afghan refugees temporarily housed at a bridging hotel. This initiative, the first of its kind by LWP, aimed to enhance healthcare access and integration into the NHS system, improve healthcare education, and boost confidence in appropriate healthcare use.
LWP collaborated with the local authority to deliver on-site primary care services, establishing regular drop-in sessions with a health and wellbeing coach. These sessions were attended by 59 residents, addressing issues such as language barriers, mental health, infectious diseases, contraception, and access to services. Interpreters were used to overcome language barriers, and e-consultations, along with on-site medical consultations, were provided as needed.
The program’s outcomes included improved patient independence, greater awareness of healthcare processes, and increased confidence in navigating the NHS system. This innovative approach by LWP highlights the importance of organized support for vulnerable populations and presents a scalable model for refugee healthcare access.
This work was presented at the BJGP Publishing and Research Conference on May 22, 2024.
Download and read the presentation
The Respiratory Diagnostics Hub at Living Well Partnership was established in December 2021. Lung function tests such as spirometry and FeNO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) were stopped during the COVID19 pandemic. This caused huge delays in getting patients diagnosed properly, if at all. The hub was set up to make our diagnostic processes more effective and efficient. Our goal is to get the diagnosis right from the start; from the first symptoms, to receiving an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Patient experience is a vital part of ensuring the hub’s success, so feedback was obtained regularly from patients and staff. This poster was presented at the Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) conference in September 2022.
