Asthma Waikato

About

Educating the community and empowering families with breathing conditions to live full lives.

Story

The organisation was formed in January 1973 by a group of parents with children who had asthma. They wanted to support each other and others in the community who were also affected by the condition. We have grown since those early days!

In recognition of the need to extend our services across the entire Waikato region, Asthma Waikato established a formal Board of Directors responsible for Best Practice Governance and to provide strategic direction.

Asthma & Respiratory Services (Waikato) Inc. trades as Asthma Waikato, is a registered charity and is affiliated to the Asthma Foundation New Zealand based in Wellington. Charity No: CC33207

We listen, we educate and we act – we make a difference!
• We educate - Education helps clients better understand what happens in their body when they get certain respiratory conditions, how their medication helps and highlights potential triggers

• We make it simple – We provide advice and tips to simplify how they manage their respiratory condition on a day to day basis – staying as well as they can possibly be

• We help them stop smoking - Smoking cessation referrals and support are a focus for our nurses

• We are their voice – we link clients with the right organisations to get their environment right e.g. liaising with landlords, Housing NZ etc. when damp, mouldy houses are causing respiratory symptoms

• We give them our time - many situations are complex e.g. multiple caregivers, complicated social issues, we spend as long as necessary with every client to get the best outcome for them

At Asthma Waikato we educate and support families so they can take control of their respiratory condition rather than letting it control them.

Our programmes including Sailor the Pufferfish show (with the exception of spirometry testing & professional development) are FREE. Our nurses go to clients home, work or school.
We provide free one-to-one education or education for the whole family/whanau on:
• Assessment of respiratory control
• Pathophysiology of Asthma/COPD
• Trigger identification and management
• Correct use of medications
• Correct inhaler/spacer techniques
• Self-management plans for Asthma and COPD
• On-going review and follow-up education if required
We accept referrals from:
• GPs and Practice Nurses
• Community Health Nurses and Plunket
• Hospital, ED and after-hours clinics
• Hospital Respiratory Educators for community follow-up
• Clients can refer themselves by telephoning us at 07 838 0851
Programmes we offer:
• One on One in home Education sessions
• On the phone client advice, support and education
• Various Professional Development and Training Programmes
• Spirometry (Lung Function) Testing
• Workplace Spirometry Testing
• Sailor the Pufferfish in School Education programme
• Community Respiratory Support Groups
• Smoking Cessation
• Community Public speaking
• Asthmalink Newsletter