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Preparing for appointments

 

 

  • Ever get tongue-tied when you walk into the doctor's surgery? Good communication with your medical team is an important part of your health care. We have prepared some quick tips for you to read or print out to help you make the most of your medical appointments:

Many health professionals out there can help you

This page contains links to other information sources and organisations that may help you learn more about asthma and how to manage it.

If you have asthma, COPD or another respiratory condition, in addition to your GP, practice nurse or specialist, a number of people and organisations exist who would like to help you with your condition. 

Over 17 affiliated Asthma Societies and branches throughout New Zealand want to help support you and provide you with information to help make your life easier. Click here for more information.

Chonic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Support Groups are an important support mechanism for people with COPD and their carers. Click here for a list of groups and contact details.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a six-week exercise and education programme. It has shown to lead to sustained improvements in quality of life for people with COPD. Ask your GP if you referral to a programme is appropriate for you. Or contact the respiratory department at your local District Health Board (DHB) for more information. (A list of DHB contact details is contained in the Useful Government Links' section below.)

A physiotherapist can teach techniques to control breathing patterns to avoid breathlessness and to clear phlegm from the chest. They can also help improve fitness and endurance, and boost immunity levels. Click here to read the Active for Life pamphlet from the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists or visit their website www.nzsp.org.nz to locate a physiotherapist in your area. The Society has just released a pamphlet about how physiotherapy can help people with heart or lung problems. Click here. 

A health social worker links people with COPD to all the organisations that can help you within your community. Call your local district health board (DHB) and ask to speak with the occupational therapy department. (A list of DHB contact details is contained in the Useful Government Links' section below.)

A dietitian can provide education about the best foods to eat for people with a respiratory illness who are worried about their weight being too low or too high. Visit the New Zealand Dietetic Association (NZDA)'s website www.dietitians.org.nz to locate a dietitian in your area.

An occupational therapist can teach people easy ways to do basic daily tasks that become more difficult for people who are unwell. Call your local district health board (DHB) and ask to speak with the occupational therapy department. (A list of DHB contact details is contained in the section below.)

The Cancer Society of New Zealand offers information to health professionals, students and people with lung cancer and their families. Visit www.cancernz.org.nz for more information on cancer.

Become smokefree today

Click to Quit - Free stop smoking help


 

If you want assistance to stop smoking see the Quitline’s site www.quit.org.nz

For information on the second hand smoke campaign and more information on making your home and car smokefree see www.smokefreehomes.co.nz

Useful government links

Ministry of Health
www.moh.govt.nz

Ministry of Health tobacco control website www.moh.govt.nz/tobacco

Maori Health
www.maorihealth.govt.nz

List of District Health Boards (DHBs) throughout New Zealand
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/contact-us-dhb

List of Maori Health Providers throughout New Zealand
www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/menuma/Maori+Health+Providers

Healthy homes

BRANZ has a variety of information bulletins which can be ordered through their website www.branz.org.nz

EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) has a range of energy conservation information on their energy wise website www.energywise.org.nz

For information on the Housing and Health research programme at the Wellington School of Medicine see www.wnmeds.ac.nz/healthyhousing.html

For health professionals

Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
http://www.thoracic.org.au

New Zealand Guidelines Group
www.nzgg.org.nz

Pulmonary Rehabilitiation Toolkit
www.pulmonaryrehab.com.au

International organisations

The Australian Lung Foundation's guide to lung health and respiratory medicine. www.lungnet.com.au

National Asthma Council Australia
www.NationalAsthma.org.au