More Australians living with lung disease are getting the support they need sooner, thanks to the expansion of Lung Foundation Australia’s telephone nurse service.  

Earlier this year, growing demand meant people could wait up to five weeks for their first appointment with a Respiratory Care Nurse. 

Today, people can usually speak with a Respiratory Care Nurse within just one day – thanks to a growing nursing team working together to get support to people sooner. 

Meet Bridgette, our newest full-time Respiratory Care Nurse, and discover the difference this team is making. 

More nurses: shorter waits 

Bridgette joining the team means the service can now provide around 20 more appointments every week. At the same time, two of our Lung Cancer Nurses have undertaken advanced respiratory care training, enabling them to support the Respiratory Care Nurse team when demand is high. 

Reducing the wait was one of Bridgette’s priorities from the moment she joined. 

“That was my goal when I started – to get that wait time down. But it was a team effort. It wasn’t just me. I feel great knowing that people aren’t waiting to get onto the program.” 

“When someone reaches out, normally something is going on. They might have been living with lung disease for years and then suddenly they’re experiencing breathlessness they haven’t had before. They’re at that point where they’re ready, they’re receptive and they’re seeking advice. That’s why it’s so important to be there when they need that help.” 

Bridgette speaks with people across Australia, including those in regional communities where accessing specialist care can be difficult. For someone who has finally decided I need some help with this, another long wait can feel like yet another barrier to getting the support they need. 

“People tell us they’re already waiting for other services or trying to access specialists, so another long wait can feel like one more barrier when they need help. That’s why knowing people can now get support from us much sooner is fantastic. It really is.’’ 

Becoming the nurse she always wanted to be 

Bridgette had dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a child, but life led her down other paths. She chose to return to university as a mature student. 

“Ever since I was little, I wanted to help people. I was always a carer in some way. Going back to university and becoming a nurse was one of the hardest things I’ve done, but it was also the most rewarding. I just love helping people. Being a nurse really is the best thing.” 

Bridgette brought more than 10 years’ experience in community nursing and cancer care to Lung Foundation Australia. Today, she supports people living with COPD, bronchiectasis and occupational lung disease through our Respiratory Care Nurse service. 

Helping people take back control 

The program gives people three one on one appointments with an experienced Respiratory Care Nurse – dedicated time to talk about how lung disease is affecting their everyday life and what they need help with. 

Bridgette and the team can answer questions and work with people on practical ways to better manage their lung health. That might mean managing breathlessness, checking inhaler technique, exploring pulmonary rehabilitation or action plans, or helping someone prepare for conversations with their healthcare team. 

For Bridgette, the goal is to give people the knowledge and confidence to live well with their lung disease. 

“If you can help someone manage their symptoms so they feel like they’re controlling it, rather than it controlling them, that’s what you want. You want them to have a good quality of life and still live their life.” 

“By the third call, they can be a totally different person to that first call. I think part of that is simply being able to talk to someone and not feeling so isolated. We can help normalise and validate how they’re feeling, because living with lung disease can be really hard.” 

The best outcome? Not needing Bridgette anymore 

One of Bridgette’s favourite parts of the job is seeing how much has changed by the end of the program. 

“At the end I feel like the cheerleader. If I was there with them, we’d be high-fiving or hugging! Their confidence has grown, they feel like they can manage moving forward and they’ll say, ‘I really don’t need these calls anymore.’” 

“That’s beautiful to hear, because they don’t need us anymore – but they know they can always come back to us. When we speak to them again at 12 months, they can be different people. They’re proactive because they can feel the difference.” 

That’s what success looks like: people feeling confident to move forward, knowing Lung Foundation Australia is still here whenever they need us. 

Thank you from Bridgette 

Growing our nursing capacity means much more than adding another member to the team. 

It means around 20 more appointments every week and helping reduce the wait for a Respiratory Care Nurse from up to five weeks earlier this year to usually around one day today. 

And when Bridgette was asked what she would say to the people whose donations help make that possible, she didn’t hesitate. 

“Whatever amount you give helps so many people. I want to say thank you. Please know that it’s life-changing. Your support means we can be there to listen, answer questions and help people feel more confident working with their healthcare team and managing their lung health.” 

Your support helps make sure that when someone living with lung disease reaches out for help, expert advice and practical support we are there when they need it – helping them feel less alone and more confident about managing their health. 

We’re here for you too 

Whether you’re living with lung disease or lung cancer, or caring for someone who is, Lung Foundation Australia’s free Lung Health Helpline is here for you. 

Our experienced nurses and social workers provide free support to people across Australia, with trusted, evidence based information and practical guidance available from the comfort of home. 

And Bridgette’s message to anyone wondering whether to make that call? 

“The support is there for you.”