Warning

The Respiratory Resource Hub includes information about respiratory conditions, symptoms and how to manage them, and about looking after your own wellbeing.  It also includes information about the care you can expect to receive from the NHS, and about support services available - both from the NHS and from third sector organisations.

Each section of the resource hub pulls together relevant links from trusted sources, mostly third sector organisations (such as health charities) and the NHS, so that it is easy for you to find the information you want.  All links to external websites open in a new window/tab.

When living with a respiratory condition it can help if you learn to manage your own health, as you know best how your condition affects your life.  This is often known as self-management.  This resource hub will link you to lots of information to help you to do this.  

We hope you will find the Respiratory Resource Hub useful.

How to find information on the respiratory resource hub

The Respiratory Resource Hub has 9 sections - just click on the heading you are interested in, and browse the information available.  

Each page of the resource hub includes a Print button - so you can print it out for yourself or somebody you care for.

  1. Welcome and introduction - this section
  2. Respiratory conditions - provides links to information about the most common respiratory conditions
  3. Managing symptoms - provides links to information about the most common respiratory symptoms and help with managing them
  4. Wellbeing - rather than being specifically about your respiratory symptoms or condition, this section provides links to information about looking after your physical and mental wellbeing more generally
  5. Journey with the NHS - provides links to information about different parts of the NHS and the services available from them.
  6. Wider support networks - provides links to information about different sources of support which are available 
  7. Life, work & environment - provides links to information about other aspects of life which might affect, or be affected by, your respiratory condition
  8. Learning events - provides information about our regular Your Breathing Matters online sessions, including some videos of past talks given by respiratory and self-management specialists.    
  9. Please give us your feedback - provides a feedback form for you to let us know what you think about the Respiratory Resource Hub, whether there is any missing information, and what we can do to improve it.

There is a Search bar at the top of each screen, which allows you to search for a particular topic amongst all the information on the Respiratory Resource Hub.

Key websites for people with respiratory conditions and their carers

Links in this respiratory resource hub are mainly to information provided by the following websites, in each case linking you directly to information about specific topics - so you don't have to search around for what you want within the individual websites.  All links to external websites open in a new window/tab.

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis - UK wide 3rd sector organisation which provides support and education and funds research and campaigns to raise awareness.  The organisation provides a support line on 01223 785 725 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

Asthma + Lunk UK

Asthma + Lung UK - UK wide 3rd sector organisation which is working to transform lung health and make sure it gets the attention it deserves.

Breathlessness Intervention Service

Breathlessness Intervention Service (BIS) - at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge - patient leaflets, audio and video about managing breathlessness.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland

Chest Heart Stroke Scotland (CHSS) - Scottish 3rd sector organisation supporting people and their families across Scotland with chest, (respiratory), heart and stroke conditions

My Self-Management

MySelf-Management - MySelf-Management has been active for over ten years, promoting and supporting the vision of self-management of health for those living with long-term conditions. In broad terms, self management encourages and supports individuals to take greater responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and seek to live life to its full potential. It is about forging an equal partnership between the individual, health and other professionals and the community around them, to the mutual benefit of all.

My Lungs My Life

My Lungs, My Life - a website created by a partnership including , CHSS and NHS Scotland with information and advice about asthma and COPD

NHS Inform

NHS Inform - Scotland's national health information service has information about a wide range of illnesses, conditions, symptoms, tests, treatments, and healthy living.  This includes a section about illnesses, infections and disorders of the lungs and airways

Key help lines for people with respiratory conditions and their carers

Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.

CHSS's advice line - Chest Heart Stroke Scotland's advice line is staffed by nurses, and provides support and information for people living with lung disease, their family and carers.  You can request booklets and factsheets to be sent to you.  Ring 0808 801 0899 between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm

Asthma + Lung UK's helpline - You can speak to a caring expert on Asthma+Lung UK's helpline about anything - from how to manage your condition, to going on holiday. Or just to say hello.  Call 0300 222 5800 on Monday to Friday, 9.15 am - 5 pm.  Or WhatsApp about Asthma on 07378 606 728 or email to: helpline@asthmaandlung.org.uk.  Visit www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/helpline to find out more.

Websites with leaflets to download

Asthma and Lung UK - leaflets 

Chest Heart Stroke Scotland - publications - some publications are available in Polish, Ukrainian, Urdu & Punjabi at: translated booklets

Breathlessness Intervention Service - patient information leaflets

Additional help lines in case you need more general advice or emotional support

Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.

Citizens Advice Scotland - or call 0800 028 1456 for free, one-to-one and impartial general advice on employment, housing, debt, benefits and consumer issues like energy bills as well as many other topics.  Open Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Breathing Space - a confidential phone line for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 who is feeling low, anxious or depressed - ring 0800 838587 - Monday to Thursday 6:00 pm to 2:00 am, Friday 6:00 pm to Monday 6:00 am  

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland - national helpline (and online webchat) - ring  808 802 6161 - Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, weekends 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Recommended resources

Throughout the Respiratory Resource Hub you will find links with an asterisk * against them to indicate they are Recommended Resources.

These are resources which have specifically been recommended by NHS Highland's Specialist Respiratory Nurses or our Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist.

Creating a Respiratory Resource Hub "app" on your mobile phone

To add a permanent link to the Respiratory Resource Hub among the apps on your phone follow these steps.

iPhone

  • Using Safari open the Respiratory Resource Hub on your mobile phone
  • Tap on the "share" icon - which you'll find either at the top or bottom of the screen (it looks like a square with a arrow pointing up out of it)
  • Scroll down and tap on "Add to Home Screen" and then Add
  • An icon will be added to your home screen - tap on it any time to go directly into the Respiratory Resource Hub

Android

  • Using Chrome open the Respiratory Resource Hub on your mobile phone
  • Tap on the three dots at the top right hand corner of the screen
  • Tap on "Add to Home Screen" and then Add
  • An icon will be added to your home screen - tap on it any time to go directly into the Respiratory Resource Hub

Acknowledgements

This Respiratory Resource Hub was created by members of NHS Highland's TEC Transforming Local Services Pathfinder Project - which was a project funded by the Scottish Government.

This project worked with patients and healthcare staff to improve services for people with respiratory conditions in Highland.  First we did research to identify problem areas and now we are co-designing solutions with patients and healthcare staff, with the aim of developing a respiratory pathway that is truly patient centered.

Our project team comprised:

The core group of people who have contributed to the development of this resource included:

  • Patient & carer representatives
  • Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
  • LGOWIT (Let’s Get On With It Together) - now called MySelf-Management
  • Respiratory specialists including consultants, specialist nurses and physiotherapists
  • Primary Care representatives, including GPs
  • Public Health and IT specialists from NHS Highland
  • Scottish Ambulance Service
  • Housing organisations

The Respiratory Resource Hub is being maintained and updated by members of the NHS Highland Respiratory Service.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 25/09/2023

Next review date: 25/09/2025

Author(s): Joanna Gilliatt.

Author email(s): joanna.gilliatt@nhs.scot.

Reviewer name(s): Kevin Patterson.