This Saturday (1 October) will bring together healthcare professionals and patients at Maidstone Hospital for a ‘Lung Awareness Day’. The event has been organised by the charity ‘Kent Lung Awareness’ in partnership with the Trust’s Respiratory Research and Respiratory Medicine departments at Maidstone Hospital.

The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Derek Butler, will speak at the event and commented: “I am looking forward to meeting and talking to the Respiratory team and members of the Kent Lung Awareness Charity about their progress over the past year. I was made very welcome last year at their inaugural event. Respiratory disease is a subject close to my heart and I have chosen the Kent Lung Awareness Charity as one of the Mayor’s Charities for 2016/2017.”

The Mayor will be joined by a range of experts, including Simon Denegri, National Director for Patients and Public at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) who will give a key note speech.

Dr Syed Arshad Husain, Chest Consultant at Maidstone Hospital will give a series of talks on the range of various lung illnesses in people and how to best manage lung conditions.

The day will also showcase a new device to help identify irregular breathing patterns in patients. There will also be advice on exercises to help those affected by breathlessness; first-hand accounts from patients with respiratory diseases; input from local patient-led support groups and information about current clinical trials.

Ricki Bishop, a retired senior Lung Physiotherapist will also be presenting on techniques to help breathlessness and appropriate use of inhalers

Dr Husain commented: “We’re delighted to be organising this event and are grateful to everyone involved, particularly Kent Lung Awareness and our speakers. We’ll be covering a wide range of topics including Bronchial Asthma, Emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, smoking-cessation services and the impact of anxiety on respiratory diseases in the NHS.”

The event takes place from 9.30am until 5pm and includes refreshments along with a light lunch. Spaces are still available and the event is free to attend.

Please book your place by emailing mtw-tr.respiratoryresearch@nhs.net

ENDS

Photo caption shows representatives from Kent Lung Awareness at the 2015 Respiratory Disease Awareness Day.