Community Respiratory Team is a multi-disciplinary team that supports patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD / Bronchiectasis / Interstitial Lung Disease for exacerbation management; prevention of hospital admission; long term management; provision of pulmonary rehabilitation and maintenance programs for the area; home visits and clinic referrals; advisory role for other health professional / specialist teams.

Community Respiratory manage the home oxygen assessment and review for all service users in the Southern Trust.

Patient/client must be:

• 18+ years with a confirmed respiratory Diagnosis (COPD / Bronchiectasis / Interstitial Lung Disease)
• requiring acute exacerbation management to prevent hospital admission;
• needing long term management.

Exclusions:

• Patients/clients will not be accepted without a respiratory diagnosis
• Must not be an acute asthmatic
• Neurological patients (unless they have oxygen needs or additional respiratory diagnosis.
• Patients will not be accepted with acute with frank haemoptysis
• Severe hypoxia;
• Haemodynamically unstable / tachycardia (>120bpm)
• Acute Type 2 respiratory failure
• Impaired consciousness
• Suspected lung cancer / TB
• Acute pulmonary oedema
• Or social Issues / needs unable to be met in the Community setting.

The following list of referrers can access this service by calling the telephone number during the access times listed:

• GP
• Consultant
• Health Care Professionals