Asthma and COPD
Asthma and COPD care in Rutherford, to help you manage your breathing.
Action plans, inhaler technique checks, breathing tests and regular reviews to help keep your lungs healthy.
Breathing well, every day.
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common lung conditions that can be well managed with the right plan. Your GP can help you understand your medicines, check your inhaler technique, monitor your lungs and plan for flare-ups.
Rutherford Doctors is a Medicare Bulk Billing Practice in Rutherford, near Maitland. Asthma and COPD reviews are bulk billed for Medicare-eligible patients.
Due for an asthma or COPD review?
How we can help.
Choose a topic to learn what is involved and when to see a GP.
Asthma
A condition where the airways narrow, causing wheeze, cough and breathlessness.
Preventers reduce inflammation over time. Relievers ease symptoms quickly.
Colds, pollen, smoke, exercise and weather changes can trigger symptoms.
A written plan tells you what to do every day and in a flare-up.
COPD
A long-term lung condition that makes it harder to breathe, often linked to smoking.
Breathlessness, ongoing cough and phlegm.
Exercise and education programs that can help.
The most important step for many people with COPD.
Inhaler technique
Many people use their inhaler in a way that delivers less medicine.
Bring your inhalers to your appointment so your GP can check your technique.
A spacer can help more medicine reach your lungs.
Your GP or pharmacist can show you how to care for your spacer.
Vaccines
Vaccines help protect people with lung conditions.
Recommended every year.
May be recommended depending on your age and health.
Ask your GP about current recommendations.
Flare-ups
Know what to do when symptoms get worse.
4 separate puffs of reliever, 4 breaths each, wait 4 minutes, repeat.
If breathing does not improve or is severe.
See your GP to review your plan.
Something else on your mind? Our GPs can help.
Lung health essentials.
Key parts of asthma and COPD care.
Asthma
Asthma action plan
Tells you which medicines to take and when to seek help.
Share it with family, school or work.
4 x 4 x 4
Asthma first aid
Repeat if needed. Call 000 if there is no improvement or breathing is severe.
Keep your reliever with you.
COPD
COPD action plan
Helps you recognise and respond to flare-ups early.
Your GP may include standby medicines.
COPD
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Can improve breathlessness and quality of life.
Your GP can refer you.
Breathing test
Spirometry
Helps diagnose and monitor lung conditions.
Done in clinic.
Both
Inhaler technique check
Bring all your inhalers and spacer.
Your pharmacist can help too.
This is general information. Follow your own action plan, and call 000 in an emergency.
Make sure your plan is up to date.
Your asthma or COPD review.
What happens at a lung health review.
Bring
Your inhalers
Bring all your inhalers, spacer and current action plan.
Breathing test
Spirometry
Your GP may suggest spirometry and may ask you to pause some inhalers beforehand.
Call 000 if
- Severe breathlessness or unable to speak in sentences
- Lips turning blue
- Reliever is not helping
- Drowsiness or confusion
Step by step
- 1Symptoms
Your GP asks how often you have symptoms and use your reliever.
- 2Technique
Your inhaler technique is checked.
- 3Testing
Spirometry may be done to measure your lung function.
- 4Plan
Your action plan and medicines are updated.
Book your lung health review.
School and work
Share your asthma action plan with your child's school, or your workplace.
Quit support
Quitting smoking helps protect your lungs. Our GPs can help.
Costs
Reviews are bulk billed for Medicare-eligible patients. Medicines are priced by your pharmacy and the PBS.
Book a reviewHow is your breathing?
Select what sounds most like you.
Book a review.
Our GPs.
All of our GPs care for people with asthma and COPD.
No preference? Book the first available GP.
Asthma and COPD questions.
What is an asthma action plan?
A written plan from your GP that tells you what to do every day and when your asthma gets worse.
What is asthma first aid?
4 separate puffs of reliever, 4 breaths each, wait 4 minutes, and repeat. Call 000 if there is no improvement.
Is a review bulk billed?
Yes, for Medicare-eligible patients with a valid Medicare card.
Do you do spirometry?
Yes. Spirometry is available in clinic.
Can quitting smoking help COPD?
Yes. Quitting is one of the most important steps. Our GPs can help.
This page provides general information about asthma and copd services at Rutherford Doctors. It is not a substitute for advice about your own health. Please book an appointment to discuss your situation. In an emergency, call 000.
