Wrapping up NZRC

More than 200 attendees joined us from across New Zealand for the Foundation’s biennial New Zealand Respiratory Conference this past 5-6 November, making the event the Foundation’s largest conference to date.

The Foundation is proud to have delivered another two days of clinical best practice, with this year’s theme being, ‘Building the Foundation for Better Breathing’ – a reference to the recently launched NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines, the revised Child Asthma Guidelines, and New Zealand’s upcoming COPD Guidelines.

Health professionals from a variety of professions attended either the in-person event in Wellington or online via the Whova app. These delegates included GP’s, nurses, pharmacists, specialists, educators, and researchers from both primary and secondary care.

Missed out on conference? Not to worry, we have collated a few of the highlights from this year’s programme below.

Day One Highlights

Plenary One

Conference kicked off with the first session ‘laying the Foundation for asthma management in New Zealand’ with Professor Richard Beasley covering the new Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines, and Dr David McNamara taking us through the revised Child Asthma Guidelines. The release of these guidelines mid-2020 saw fundamental changes to asthma management in New Zealand based on advances in knowledge and outcomes from clinical trials.

Plenary Two

This session saw Dr Stuart Jones introduce New Zealand’s first COPD Guidelines – this presentation was noted as one of the highlights of NZRC 2020. Betty Poot covered the Foundation’s Asthma & COPD Fundamentals E-Learning Series, and Dr Amy Chan provided a thought-provoking presentation about how digital technology can aid in asthma management.

Plenary Three

Here we heard some interesting insights into how COVID-19 has affected RSV rates in 2020, and an update on associated immunisations with Dr Adrian Trenholme. Following this, Logan Heyes from PHARMAC updated us on respiratory medicines which showed a clear link to the updated NZ Asthma Guidelines.

Plenary Four

Closing day one, this session spoke to Te Whare Tapa Whā, with Lady Tureiti Moxon giving us an understanding of the Wai 2575 Hauora Treaty Claim. Noelene Rapana inspired us with how cultural clinical interventions have improved health outcomes in the Bay of Plenty, and Keri Brown demonstrated how the COVID-19 pandemic revealed ‘cracks’ in Hutt housing.

Day Two Highlights

Plenary Five

Day two kicked off with a demonstration of the links between housing, clean air and health – Raewynne Jacobs from EECA covered the Warmer Kiwi Homes Programme and the support that is available for homeowners for heating and insulation. Dr Guy Coulson from NIWA spoke to air quality and what New Zealand’s problem areas are that may affect respiratory health. People with respiratory diseases are especially vulnerable to air pollution, which exacerbates COPD and contributes to the onset of asthma - a global problem with air pollution being one of the largest environmental causes of ill health and mortality.

Plenary Six

Aptly titled ‘Building towards a Smokefree 2025’ this session was particularly topical given the recent passing of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill in August 2020. Fact-based presentations from Professor Hayden McRobbie on the role of ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) to quit smoking, and Professor Philip Pattemore questioning if ENDS are displacing cigarettes in youth - generating a strong Q&A session.

Plenary Seven

This session focussed on how to improve patient care and promote self-management. Sue Ward and Kate Te Pou from Hawke’s Bay demonstrated how; with very little finance and lots of passion, the health and quality of life of respiratory patients could be improved. Dr Sarah Mooney conveyed how our sedentary lifestyles have a health impact, and Susan Jones spoke to the barriers of good asthma care. Inequities and barriers to healthcare were key themes throughout NZRC 2020.

Plenary Eight

This session saw delegates both laugh and cry with personal stories from Peter Atkins who lives with COPD, finding comfort and relief in singing for pulmonary rehabilitation, and Tomairangi Brown, who at only 17 years old, has had more than 150 hospital admissions for asthma and bronchiectasis.

Plenary Nine

This session looked to the future with a reflection on the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and what it’s still teaching us – presented by Dr Michelle Balm, a clinical microbiologist and infectious diseases physician who has contributed to the regional and national COVID-19 response.