Stockport Respiratory SIG –Respiratory Updates, Guidance, Gaps and Local Priorities

Viaduct Care Academy are delighted to invite you to a brand-new, fully funded respiratory education programme created specifically for primary care professionals across Stockport.

This peer-led series is designed to be practical, collaborative, and grounded in real-world general practice. Whether you're looking to refresh your knowledge, build confidence, or help shape local respiratory care, these sessions will provide actionable insights you can apply immediately.

The programme commences with a series of focused, high-impact virtual sessions and concludes with a face-to-face Respiratory Specialist Interest Group (SIG) session in October. Following the retirement of Dr Stephen Gaduzo, the Respiratory SIG will now be led by Amy Shaw, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, (Stockport COPD, Respiratory Medicine, Oxygen & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service) supported by Viaduct Care to maintain a strong primary care perspective. Amy brings extensive expertise across community and secondary care. This programme aims to bridge the gap between specialist knowledge and frontline primary care delivery, ensuring learning is both clinically robust and practically relevant.

The Stockport Specialist Interest Group is 

Facilitated by Amy Shaw, ACP, Stockport COPD, Respiratory Medicine, Oxygen & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service, Stockport NHS FT; Dr Alexander Tempowski, Respiratory Consultant & Clinical Director for Respiratory Services, Stockport NHS FT and Dr Viren Mehta, Stockport GP & GP Chief Officer, Viaduct Care

This session will provide:

• Spotting COPD earlier, preventing admissions
  • The hidden scale of COPD in the community, and why so many patients go undiagnosed for years
  • A simple red flag to watch for: ex-smokers presenting with LRTIs, and when to consider referral for community spirometry
  • Why hospital admission with an exacerbation (IECOPD) is such a serious event for patients, and the value of avoiding it
  • How optimising inhaler therapy can help protect patients from severe exacerbations
  • A practical look at the patient journey, with tips on identifying and supporting patients earlier, before they reach crisis point
• Key updates on national and Greater Manchester respiratory guidance
• Understanding QoF expectations and BeCCoR requirements
• Stockport specific pathway update
• A Stockport-focused discussion on current gaps and variation in care

Focus areas include:

• What the BeCCoR contract means for primary care in practice
• When and how to utilise the Community diagnostics and community services effectively
• Overview of updated GMMMG respiratory guidance
• Optimising care to improve both respiratory and systemic outcomes
• Aligning practice with population health and prevention strategies
• Identifying opportunities for pathway alignment and improvement

This meeting has been sponsored by Chiesi, Astra Zeneca and other pharmaceutical companies. None of the sponsors have had no input into the agenda or content of the meeting.

  By booking onto this session you acknowledge and agree that your contact details (such as your name, job title ,email address and organisation) may be shared with the sponsor where this is necessary for the administration of the course or as part of the sponsorship arrangement. By booking onto the course you consent to this sharing where applicable.