NZ Respiratory Conference 2018 Ready to Go - Asthma and Respiratory disease in the Spotlight 

• Over 200 professionals with an interest in respiratory health will be attending the New Zealand Respiratory Conference this week, Pullman Hotel, Auckland. Thursday 22 November - Friday 23 November.
• Specialists will be talking about COPD - World COPD Day -  21st November 2018. 
• Other key topics include climate change and respiratory health, mental health and living with a respiratory condition, and Māori models of health.  

 
20 November 2018 - Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ is gearing up for one of the big events on the respiratory calendar with the New Zealand Respiratory Conference 2018, being held at the Pullman Hotel, Auckland on 22-23 November 2018. The New Zealand Respiratory Conference is the largest dedicated conference focusing on respiratory health in New Zealand, and attracts over 200 health professionals from across the country including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, specialists, educators and health professionals. 
 
Asthma and respiratory diseases are two of the leading causes of sickness and death in New Zealand. One in six people have a respiratory disease. It’s the third most common cause of death. Asthma affects 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 7 children in New Zealand. It's vital that the leading medical experts from New Zealand and overseas can come together to learn, develop and network to ensure that New Zealand can continue to look at the serious issues around respiratory disease.

Letitia O'Dwyer, Chief Executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, comments: "It's great that this year's event is the same week as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Day, raising awareness around COPD, and showcasing that this is a serious respiratory disease for New Zealand. The figures do not look good, alongside many of the respiratory diseases in New Zealand including asthma and bronchiectasis. It's about looking at the big picture, and working collaboratively with all key stakeholders to make a big difference." 

Key note speakers this year include many leading names including Dr Sandra Hotu - Māori models of health, Dr James Fingleton - COPD focus, Dr Annette Bolton - climate change and its effect on our respiratory health, Dr Stuart Jones Smoke Free NZ, Prof Richard Beasley the latest Guidelines and Emily Arps living with a respiratory condition and our mental health. 

Professional accreditations include: 

RNZCGP Endrosed CPD Activity

New Zealand Respiratory Conference (NZRC) and GP Respiratory Update – Commitment to Excellence have been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and approved for up to 11 CME credits for the New Zealand Respiratory Conference and 5 ½  credits for the GP Respiratory Update – Commitment to Excellence, General Practice Educational Programme (GPEP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes.​

PSNZ ENHANCE Endorsement

The professional sessions of this conference have been formally endorsed by PSNZ ENHANCE as suitable for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan. Pharmacists may allocate group 1 points at 1 point per hour for each session attended. (Up to 7 hours of group 1 points for the Thursday programme, and up to 5 group 1 points for Friday). Accreditation number 2018/11.

Letitia O'Dwyer, Chief Executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, continues: "This is an important event that brings together all the leading respiratory professionals from New Zealand in one place. We will be looking at the key issues currently happening in the respiratory space, including Māori models of health, which is a focus area for us at the Foundation, climate change and mental health amongst many other topics. Let's look at making a real difference, and not just brushing key issues under the carpet."

The conference will run over two days 22-23 November 2018, Pullman Hotel, Auckland. The dedicated GP event will run on Thursday 22 November alongside the NZRC for health professionals and nurses. The event continues on Friday 23 November for all health professionals. 

Teresa Demetriou, Head of Education and Research at Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ, comments: "We are looking forward to this year's conference as we will be covering all the hot topics in respiratory health. The workshop elements and break out sessions, give health professionals the opportunity to discuss how these factors may affect their patients and their practices going forward. We are thrilled to be able to offer a new event for GPs, this event is open to any health professional who wants to update themselves on respiratory best practice as we recognise that it's important we all work together to deliver the best service to our patients."

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: IF ANY MEDIA WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE, OR SET UP AN INTERVIEW WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE EVENT OR PRE/POST EVENT ON THE TELEPHONE, PLEASE CONTACT VICKY JONES ON 027 536 8671 OR vicky@asthmaandrespiratory.org.nz 

For the full programme click here:- https://www.nzrc2018.org/nzrc-programme

There is still time to register for the event. Please visit www.nzrc2018.org. It includes all refreshments, speakers, evening networking event and workshop sessions.  

COPD Notes: COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is an umbrella term for the disease emphysema or chronic bronchitis. If you have COPD it means the breathing passages (airways) in your lungs are compromised and lung tissue is damaged. 

COPD is often undiagnosed, and at least 200,000 or 15 per cent of the adult population in New Zealand over 45 years of age are thought to be affected. In 2016 it was determined that 36,958 New Zealanders were living with COPD. Even with under-reporting COPD is still the fourth most common cause of death after ischaemic heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. In people over 40, COPD is a concern, especially within Māori and Pacifika populations where rates are highest.  

For further information about COPD and the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ please visit www.asthmaandrespiratory.org.nz

For more information about World COPD Day tomorrow 21st November 2018 visit https://goldcopd.org/ 

 
ENDS