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HealthInfo Canterbury

Getting help with COPD

Your GP and practice nurse can give you information, advice, a treatment plan and medications to help you manage your COPD.

If you need to find a general practice team, you can search on this map.

Local support societies and groups

CanBreathe provides services and support to help you manage your COPD. Most services are free or very cheap. They include consultations and home visits, with follow-up support as needed and education about medications, inhalers and spacers.

Canterbury Better Breathing pulmonary rehabilitation programme

The Canterbury Better Breathing pulmonary rehabilitation programme helps you improve your breathing and fitness.

Canterbury community respiratory support and exercise groups provide informal group sessions in the community.

Specialist COPD services

In Canterbury, there are many specialist respiratory services available for people with COPD or other breathing disorders, including:

Your health professional or GP can refer you to one or more of the above services as you need them.

Christchurch Hospital or Ashburton Hospital respiratory services

You may want to pay to see a private respiratory specialist. There are several specialists in Canterbury who see people with COPD.

Māori health providers

There are Māori health providers who can provide support with managing your COPD.

Pasifika health providers

There are Pasifika health providers who can provide support with managing your COPD.

Financial help

For information about funding that your GP might be able to use to reduce the cost of your health care, see Funding schemes at your general practice.

To find out about the disability allowance benefit, see Disability Allowance.

Transport and parking has information about mobility parking permits, the Total Mobility half-price taxi scheme, and other transport options.

See Keeping your home warm & dry for information about the Community Energy Action (CEA) Charitable Trust. CEA might be able to help with reduced costs for insulation and efficient heating.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed June 2021.

Page reference: 853802

Review key: HICOP-16602