Each year Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects around 835,000 people in the UK and an increasing number in Dorset.

COPD, the name for a collection of lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is one of the most common respiratory diseases in the UK. It is responsible for around 25,000 deaths each year.

Yet the debilitating disease, which sees sufferers spending an average of two weeks in hospital, could be prevented by making small, simple changes in lifestyle.

At the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, a nurse-led Respiratory Early Discharge Scheme (REDS) team is helping patients with COPD to return home sooner, by allowing them to use hospital respiratory equipment such as nebulisers at home.

Patients with chronic respiratory illnesses are assessed by a respiratory nurse from the REDS team for suitability for early supported discharge – most will be able to go home immediatley, and some within a few days. Patients then receive a daily visit from the specialist respiratory nurse for up to seven days, or when medically fit.

Sarah Pritchard, REDS clinical lead, said: “Small lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and encouraging exercise, can help even the most chronic sufferers. We are keen to raise awareness of the disease so encourage anyone who wants to find out more, or think they may be suffering with COPD, to come along to our event and talk to our specialist nurses.”

The disease, which makes breathing difficult for sufferers, is caused by smoking and passive smoking, exposure to fumes or dusty places and air pollution, and symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing and bringing up phlegm or mucus.

Leonard Chapman, 76, of Fairmile Road in Christchurch, uses the services of the REDS team, after being diagnosed with COPD when receiving treatment for an unrelated illness.

He said: “The only symptoms I had I put down to getting older, but thought it was nothing serious, such as getting out of breath when climbing the stairs.”

Leonard was in hospital for 36 hours when the REDS team assessed him to see if he could go home early as part of the scheme.

“They came to see me and asked about the facilities I had at home, such as having a downstairs toilet and bedroom, and then told me they could do as much for me at home as they could in hospital.“

The REDS team looked after Leonard for ten days at home.

He said: “It is almost like having your own private health insurance – they become friends without the over familiarity. They never forget who you are and they deal with you on a very personal basis. More than anything else, they understand your condition – they never rush you or get impatient when you can’t do things quickly.

“It really is a specialist treatment that you get – you feel secure as we know if we call them they will deal with it immediately.”