Love your Lungs (Meir)

Could your breathing be better?

Do you become out of breath walking up the stairs? Do you stop to catch your breath more often than you used to? Have you had a cough that won't go away or find yourself wheezing?

Many people think feeling breathless is just part of getting older or something they have to live with. But that's not always true.

Breathlessness can sometimes be an early sign of a lung condition, heart problem or another health issue. The earlier it is identified, the sooner support and treatment can begin.

That's why Meir Primary Care Network (Meir PCN) is working with University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) and Midlands Partnership Trust Respiratory Specialist Nurses to help local people understand their lung health and access the right supportthrough a Love Your Lungs (Meir) Campaign.

Why is lung health so important?

Every breath you take delivers oxygen around your body. Healthy lungs help you:

• Walk further without stopping
• Stay active and independent
• Sleep better
• Have more energy
• Reduce your risk of serious illness
• Improve your overall quality of life

Around one in five people in the UK will experience a lung condition during their lifetime. Conditions such as:

• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Asthma
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Bronchiectasis
• Lung Cancer

can often develop gradually, meaning people don't always realise there is a problem until symptoms become more severe.

Recognising the signs early can make a real difference.

What is the Love your Lungs (Meir)Project?

The Love your Lungs Project is designed to identify people who may be living with undiagnosed or poorly controlled breathing problems.

Working together, Meir PCN, UHNM and MPFT Respiratory Specialist Nurses are reaching out to patients who may benefit from further assessment, advice or support.

The project aims to:

• Improve awareness of lung health
• Help identify breathing problems earlier
• Support people to access the right care
• Reduce unnecessary hospital admissions
• Help people stay healthier for longer

Who could benefit?

You may benefit if you:

• Often feel breathless doing everyday activities
• Have a persistent cough
• Wheeze regularly
• Smoke or have smoked in the past
• Have worked in dusty or industrial environments
• Have repeated chest infections
• Have been told you have asthma or COPD but still struggle with your breathing

Even if your symptoms seem mild, it's worth talking to us.

What happens next?

If you've received information about the project or have seen one of our posters:

1. Scan the QR code or complete the online questionnaire.
2. One of our team will review your answers.
3. If needed, we'll contact you to discuss your symptoms.
4. We may arrange further assessment or direct you to the most appropriate service.

Not everyone will need an appointment, but everyone who takes part helps us better understand the health needs of our community.

Looking after your lungs

There are lots of simple things you can do to improve your lung health:

✔ Stop smoking – it's never too late to benefit.

✔ Stay active with regular walking or gentle exercise.

✔ Keep up to date with your flu and COVID vaccinations if you're eligible.

✔ Attend your asthma or COPD reviews.

✔ Eat well and maintain a healthy weight.

✔ Seek advice if your breathing changes.

Small changes today can make a big difference tomorrow.

Working together for a healthier Meir

This project is part of Meir PCN's commitment to improving the health of local people through prevention, early diagnosis and personalised care.

By working closely with University Hospitals of North Midlands and MPFT Respiratory Specialist Nurses, we can ensure patients receive the right support at the right time.

Together, we're helping people breathe easier, stay healthier and live well.

Find out more

If you'd like more information about the Breathlessness Project, please:

• Speak to your GP Practice
• Contact the Meir PCN team: MierPCN@stoke.nhs.uk

Because every breath matters.

Don't ignore these symptoms

Seek advice if you experience:

🫁 Breathlessness during everyday activities

🫁 A cough lasting more than three weeks

🫁 Wheezing

🫁 Frequent chest infections

🫁 Tightness in your chest

Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

CQC Inspection - Good Rating

Open Clinic Sexual Health Summer Newsletter

OpenClinic Summer 2026.pdf

Veteran Friendly Practice

We’re proud to be a Veteran Friendly Accredited GP practice and to support our veteran community this Remembrance Day.

We know that this Remembrance Day is likely to be particularly challenging for the many veterans in our community and we want you to know that we are trained and committed to effectively identifying and supporting your health needs.

As a Veteran Friendly Accredited practice, our team:

•recognises the importance of identifying veteran patients within our community

•understands the unique health needs that veterans may have

•strives to provide veterans with the very best care and support

•knows about the specialist veteran healthcare services that exist

•undertakes regular training and development to ensure we’re able to deliver the very best care to veterans in our community and meet the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant

If you’re a veteran patient, please do let us know that you have served so that we can make sure you receive the most appropriate and best care, if and when you ever need it.

You can learn more about the accreditation and how it supports veteran patients, here: rcgp.org.uk/veterans

Check your heart health

FIBRICHECK YOUR HEART’S HEALTH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Tackling Dehydration

Published on 10th Feb 2026

Weekly support for those bereaved by suicide

Published on 10th Feb 2026

My Pregnancy Notes

Are you pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant? Have you recently had a baby? Please follow this link here to find out more about how to access up to date information, diaries for you and baby, delivery plans and lots of other useful information. This is a new service in our area, just for you!

Try the new NHS App

If you’re a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.

If you already use Patient Access or any other provider you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.

For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp.

Care Navigation - Message from Dr Valasapalli

We are introducing an initiative to help people to find the most appropriate source of help when they call our practice or pop in to make an appointment.

This means that our specially trained reception staff may ask questions about why appointments are required.

You are not obliged to answer the questions they ask, however by doing so we can make sure that those people who really need to see a GP can see them as soon as possible.

Virtually everyone who calls to make an appointment asks to see a GP, but very often help will be available more quickly from other highly skilled medical professionals such as nurses or pharmacists, or from other services, including the voluntary sector, they can support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs.

Our trained reception staff will be able to offer you the most appropriate help using the range of information they have access to.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to speak to The Practice Manager.