We remember with warm appreciation, Fran Husson, a passionate and dedicated member of our Bronchiectasis community. Fran joined the Bronchiectasis e-panel in 2016 and became a valued member of the Patient Advisory Group (PAG) in December 2022.
Fran, an experienced patient advocate in her 80s living in London, brought wisdom and understanding to every project she supported. Living with both Aspergillosis and Bronchiectasis, she was committed to improving healthcare for people with lung conditions internationally.
One of her specific interests was promoting the use of Personal Health Records (PHR) and she regularly spoke at conferences about how PHR helped her manage her own health. Fran also contributed to important work as a Public Partner with Imperial College’s Health Protection Research Unit and UKHSA ESPAUR (English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance).
Fran rarely missed an ELF Bronchiectasis Patient Advisory Group (PAG) meeting. She brought energy, thoughtful opinions and a genuine interest in listening to and learning from others. She was involved in many of our activities, including co-writing a chapter on the patient experience during the Covid-19 pandemic for the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Monograph, and recording a video for the 2024 Bronchiectasis Patient Conference about living with multiple lung conditions. Her interest in innovation also saw her contribute to a recent AI project exploring the accuracy of bronchiectasis information online. Most recently, she was helping to develop a new information guide about sputum.
Fran’s insight, enthusiasm and determination made a lasting impact on all who worked with her. We are grateful for the time she spent with us and she will be deeply missed.
“Though I knew Fran for a short period, she was for me a source of inspiration due to her involvement and her dedication in order to help respiratory patients. With all my respect and gratitude. Thanks so much, Fran.” Justine Hamaïde
“Fran was knowledgeable and hardworking on a number of fronts to empower patients and improve their care. She was a great colleague on the PAG and I miss her.” Bridget
“Fran was a joyful and inspiring presence in our project team. Always ready to share her thoughts, she pushed things forward and truly made a difference. Fran was a vital and valued part of our team, and we deeply miss her positive spirit and the insight she brought to every discussion.” Christian Hoenig and the admedicum team
“I had the pleasure of being friends with Fran for some years before my involvement with ELF, primarily through NTM Patient Care UK. She was a kind, caring, knowledgeable and supportive person who always had time to listen and share experiences with you. No problem was too small or too big for Fran, and I never worried about what I needed to talk to her about – she always was accepting and understanding. We met through regular private ZOOM calls often before formal meetings began, a lot of times at weekends and we usually spoke for up to an hour at a time. I miss her very much already as a friend and a great advocate for patients who she always did her best to help and support as best she could. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.” Graham Lake
