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Search forWeather alerts to aid disease sufferers
Monday, November 17, 2008, 11:11
Healthy Outlook is an alert system to keep people with respiratory disease in good health and out of hospital when freezing weather bites.
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are being offered medical advice and help through the system, with tips on beating COPD during cold snaps.
The system was pioneered in Cornwall in 2006-07 and rolled out to eight primary care trusts last winter.
It has shown a 23 per cent reduction in the number of COPD-related admissions to hospitals.
Bath and North East Somerset PCT has now teamed up with the Meteorological Office to offer the scheme.
Dr Kieran Morgan, trust director of public health, said: "It is well known that cold weather has a direct impact on COPD in terms of exacerbating the symptoms.
"Nationally, about 1.5 per cent of the country's population suffers from COPD, that's about 900,000 people, and accounts for about 30,000 deaths."
Patrick Sachon, Met Office forecaster, said the system worked by monitoring weather conditions six to 10 days in advance and linking this with flu outbreaks in particular areas.
"The combination of the two gives us our alert," he said.
"Last winter, there were four periods of elevated risk."
Surgeries offering Health Outlook are Westfield, St Chad's in Midsomer Norton, Chew Magna, Hope House, Harptree and Elm Hayes, at Paulton.
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