More than 120 people attended a community lung health event in Southampton, helping to uncover previously undiagnosed conditions and connect people with treatment and support closer to home.
The event took place last month in Chamberlayne Leisure Centre in Weston and was delivered as part of the city’s Integrated Neighbourhood Hubs. The hubs regularly bring together Senior Saints (a National Lottery Reaching Communities funded project designed to promote physical activity and social connections among older people) with local NHS and social care services.
GP Practice teams and specialists from University Hospital Southampton attended the event to offer free lung health checks, expert advice and onward referrals to services that can support people to stay independent and healthy at home for longer.
Clinicians at the event identified a number of previously undiagnosed cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), with patients supported into treatment and ongoing care.
This is particularly important for Southampton, where respiratory disease is the third leading cause of death. There is evidence of underdiagnosed COPD in the city, higher smoking rates than the national average, and significant inequalities driving worse outcomes in more deprived communities. It remains a key priority for the Health and Care Partnership Board in Southampton, with all partners supporting to make these events a success.
Kathryn Bowden, Primary Care and Integrated Neighbourhood Working Coordinator at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Events like this are exactly what neighbourhood working is all about - meeting people where they are and spotting health issues earlier. COPD can often go undiagnosed until it becomes more serious, so being able to identify cases and start people on the right treatment sooner is hugely important.”
Dr Hannah Burke, Consultant Respiratory Physician at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“By bringing together GPs, hospital specialists and community teams in one place, we’re making it easier for patients to access the care they need closer to home.”
“This event shows the real value of closer working between hospital teams and community services. It aligns closely with the aims of the SHIFT-AIR (South Hampshire Integrated Find and Treat Airways) Programme, which proactively delivers care to patients with COPD by bringing the specialist care closer to the patient. By supporting earlier diagnosis and intervention in the community, we can improve outcomes for patients and help prevent avoidable hospital admissions.”
Connor Willshire, Senior Saints Coordinator at Saints Foundation, said:
“Senior Saints supports people to get physically active and connected to their communities. The hubs are proving to be a great way to engage older people with local health services, keeping them healthy and independent for longer.”
James House, Partnership Director at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “The success of this event is helping to shape future service delivery in Southampton. Planning is already underway for the next respiratory-focused event, alongside proposals to expand the programme to include cardiovascular disease (CVD).”
Help shape the future of neighbourhood health services
This event is part of a growing neighbourhood health approach across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight which brings together NHS services, councils and voluntary sector organisations to provide care.
James Roach, Director of Neighbourhood Health at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, explains: “Neighbourhood health is about delivering more joined-up, preventative care that meets the needs of local communities. It will be fundamental to how we deliver the 10 year health plan, keeping people out of hospital and bringing care closer to home. The success of this event shows what can be achieved when organisations work together as one team. Neighbourhood health is truly everyone’s business and we are incredibly proud of the progress being made and the commitment our teams show every day to meeting the needs of our communities. We would also like to thank our patients for willing to engage with new services.”
As neighbourhood health services continue to develop, we want to understand how these changes are working for you so far, and what would make the biggest difference next. That’s why we’ll be out and about this summer in all the 44 proposed neighbourhood areas of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, listening to the views and ideas of local people. You can also share your views through our online survey. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help inform how we plan and improve health services in your neighbourhood. It only takes around 5 minutes to complete online here.
Pictured below: staff and partners at one of the Integrated Neighbourhood Hubs that take place across Southampton.
