SEPT RAPID RESPONSE TEAM BREATHE EASY

Breathe Easy Southend have chosen to support SEPT’s (South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) Rapid Response Team by donating four nebulisers to assist those with acute breathing problems.

Breathe Easy Southend is one of many British Lung Foundation Support Groups. Their aim is to help and support people with lung disease, their families and friends.

Each year Breathe Easy support either local hospitals or community nursing by means of donating medical equipment. This year Breathe Easy Southend Chairman, Norman Petts, suggested supporting SEPT’s The Rapid Response Team which was agreed by the local committee.

Rapid Response Teams provide professional nursing care in a patients’ own home when they are experiencing an acute episode of their illness. In many cases it saves the patient from being admitted to hospital as they can prescribe and administer medications including those required intravenously.

Norman Petts, Breathe Easy Southend’s Chairman, said “One person in seven in the UK is affected by a lung disease, whether it’s mild asthma, COPD or lung cancer. Many of our members have been treated by nurses from SEPT’s Rapid Response Team and cannot speak highly enough of the help and support they were given. They often loan nebulisers to people with breathing difficulties and had limited numbers available and we were delighted to be able to increase that number”.

A handover of the nebulisers will take place at 13.30 at The Cornerstone United Reform Church, Central Avenue Southend-on-Sea, SS2 5HR on Wednesday 6 March and members of the media are invited to attend.

The British Lung Foundation has more than 200 Breathe Easy groups around the UK and also offers support and advice via its helpline, on 08458 505020 or visit www.blf.org.uk/breatheeasy

 ENDS