Respiratory e-learning now available from RCGP
23/11/11
A comprehensive new e-learning course to
support GPs in promoting and managing respiratory health has been
launched by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
Respiratory Health in General Practice covers the promotion of
respiratory health and the management of key symptoms and
conditions presented by patients with respiratory problems. It
reviews the core knowledge, latest practical guidance and useful
resources that GPs and practice nurses can use to improve the care
they provide.
The course was developed in partnership with the Primary Care
Respiratory Society UK and Education for Health, and is based on
the key learning outcomes in the RCGP curriculum statement on
respiratory problems.
The content of the course was written and reviewed by a team
consisting of respiratory specialists and educationalists including
GPs, nurses and secondary care doctors. It has been designed to be
completed in 30-minute sessions, which can be taken independently
or combined.
Topics covered by Respiratory Health in General Practice
include:
- assessment of wheeze, cough and breathlessness
- common respiratory investigations
- asthma and COPD
- allergies, lower RTIs and tuberculosis
- lung cancer and less common chest conditions
Dr Ben Riley, RCGP Medical Director for e-Learning, said:
“Supporting good respiratory health is central to modern general
practice. This major new educational resource will assist a wide
range of practitioners – from GP trainees getting to grips with the
basics of respiratory health through to experienced practitioners
wishing to update their knowledge on the latest primary care
guidance.”
Monica Fletcher, Chief Executive at Education for Health and
Chair of the European Lung Foundation, said: “This course will
prove to be an invaluable resource in improving practice around
respiratory health. For GPs and nurses working in primary care this
learning resource will be hugely beneficial both in terms of
professional development, and in terms of the care their patients
receive. There is still a lot of misdiagnosis of respiratory
conditions and this course will allow for better diagnosis, better
treatment and improved outcomes for patients and practices.”
Dr Steve Holmes, PCRS-UK Education said: “keeping up to date on
specific disease areas is a constant challenge for any generalist
practitioner. PCRS-UK was delighted to work with the RCGP to
produce this very accessible resource and to be able to offer
free membership to those using it.”
The new e-learning course is freely available to all RCGP
members, GPs and other primary care practitioners who register on
the RCGP Online Learning Environment: www.elearning.rcgp.org.uk.
The course draws from a wide base of expertise and
was edited by Monica Fletcher, Chief Executive of Education for
Health and Chair of the European Lung Foundation, and Dr Raj
Ramachandram, GPwSI Respiratory Lead for the Heart of
Birmingham Primary Care Trust and Associate Specialist in
Respiratory Medicine at Birmingham Chest Clinic.
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION
RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7576/7575/7574
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more
than 44,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We
work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general
medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education,
training, research and clinical standards.