Charity steps in to keep Lisburn group going

The Respiratory Support Network, which operates in 23 locations across Northern Ireland including in Lisburn, was established with an award worth almost 500,000 from the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme to allow it to operate for the first three years.

But as that time ended this month the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS), which runs the service, has decided to keep it going indefinitely after assessing the level of need in the community.

The network helps people who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which affects breathing and can confine sufferers to their homes.

Having a local support group means an end to the isolation and allows someone to meet others in the same position. The groups also help those affected to manage their illness and reduce hospital admissions. COPD has no cure, but its symptoms can be managed with drug treatment and lifestyle changes.

Mary McCanny, a member of the Lisburn Respiratory Group who lives with COPD said: "Joining the NICHS respiratory support group has been a great support and is the best thing I've done. It's a great help to talk to other people with the same illness and to take advantage of the advice on managing your own condition."

NICHS and the Big Lottery Fund held an event at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast recently to celebrate the success of the Respiratory Support Network, which now supports over 500 sufferers of COPD, their families and carers across Northern Ireland.

The charity's Chief Executive, Andrew Dougal, said: "We're very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for helping us to get this project off the ground. In the current financial uncertainty, we feared that we might not be able to provide the level of funding required to continue it. But this service is hugely important to those who use it. It's also vitally important for society as a whole, since COPD and other respiratory illnesses cost the Health Service 47m to treat each year in Northern Ireland alone.

"We have shown that the support groups can help people avoid stays in hospital by reducing the number of flare-ups in their condition, so it's of benefit not just to the individual, but to the NHS as well."

NI Chest Heart and Stroke also developed a range of materials and training programmes to support the Respiratory Network, such as the 'Taking Control' self management of health training course; a DVD on how to cope with COPD for people who have been newly diagnosed with the condition; an audio CD of relaxation techniques to help sufferers of COPD and a booklet on 'Understanding and living with COPD'. All materials have been produced with support from the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities Programme.

The NICHS Respiratory Support Group in Lisburn meets twice a month at the Conservatory in Lagan Valley Hospital and people with COPD and their carers who want to join can contact NI Chest Heart and Stroke for information.

More information on the NICHS Respiratory Support Network can be found at www.nichs.org.uk or call 9032 0184.

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Members of the NICHS Lisburn Respiratory Support Group at the Networks Celebration Event in Belfast recently are (back row L - R) Julie Mc Ginnis, NICHS Respiratory Co-ordinator, Mary Mc Canny, Sadie Reddick, Eileen Shirlow, Sally Douglas, Marie Carey, Margaret Archer, Florence Gilmore, Bewlah Leitch, Agnes Snoddy, Ita Hyland, Terry Leckey, (front row L-R) Clara Spence, Phillis Hanna, Brian Patterson, Edith Leckey.