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WING COPD - Wessex Integrated Network Group for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) met this week bringing together NHS staff from across our region to help find better ways to prevent and diagnose COPD, and care for people with COPD.

The meeting included commissioners, the ambulance service, smoking cessation services, researchers as well as doctors, nurses and physiotherapists from NHS Trusts in Wessex.

It has long been Professor Tom Wilkinson's aim as lead for Respiratory Care at CLAHRC Wessex to find ways to integrate the care pathways for people with the condition. He was joined by fellow researchers and practitioners who are working to improve care.

Here are just some of the comments from the Group after its first meeting:

“ It was great to meet professionals from various different services and share experiences” 

“Exciting prospect for collaborative working”

“Interesting, well organised and necessary – Lots going on and we need to share and learn effectively geographical and professional boundaries”

“ I understand this is the 1st meeting but others will need to show tangible results provided by the network”

Organisations at the meeting included: South Coast Ambulance Service, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Solent NHS Trust,University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset County Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NHS West Hampshire CCG, NHS Southampton City CCG,  Isle of Wight NHS Primary Care NHS Trust, The Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wessex AHSN