Caring for a patient with COPD in general practice

Abstract

Catherine is an advanced nurse practitioner working in a large general practice in the north of England. She receives and treats patients with undifferentiated complaints and works alongside her medical colleagues. Today she is reviewing patients suffering from chronic disease. Paul is 58 years old. He suffers with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and lives with his wife Patricia and has two grown up daughters. He is an ex-smoker with a history of 40 pack years. He attends the clinic with his wife who is looking very anxious. In these times of global pandemic of the novel coronavirus he has already been tested for COVID-19 and found negative.