Community Respiratory Team guide (Sefton)

What do the team do?

A Respiratory HUB is available at Netherton Health Centre, for patients who are referred by their GP other health care provider to diagnose and manage your respiratory condition.

• You will be offered an appointment depending on your symptoms with either a respiratory consultant, respiratory nurse, respiratory physiotherapists, pharmacist or smoking cessation
• Depending on your symptoms you may see more than one professional during your appointment
• Prior to some appointments you will be offered spirometry and/or feno testing. These tests enable us to appropriately diagnose your respiratory condition. Both involve breathing into a machine and are painless
• The HUB will ensure you are taking the right inhalers and if we need to change any of your medication, a pharmacist will discuss options and explain how to take your medication correctly
• Sometimes we will need to request blood samples to help us diagnose your condition
• You will be provided with a treatment plan to enable you to manage your condition and reduce the number of infections and you will also be offered Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

What is the Respiratory Team?

The Respiratory team provide specialist respiratory services to people who have respiratory conditions who are under the care of a Sefton GP. The team consists of a consultant, advanced respiratory practitioners specialist respiratory nurses, advanced respiratory physiotherapists, health care assistants and Sefton admin.

Our Services

The team provides a hospital at home service. This allows for some patients to be cared for in their own homes which reduce the need to be admitted to hospital. We support patients from Southport and NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group's Aintree site to be discharged home earlier to recover in their own home with the Sefton Community Respiratory Team (CRT) to monitor them until their condition improves.

We offer consultant, chest physiotherapists and nurse led clinics. Nurses and physiotherapists will provide a home visit if you are housebound. The team offers a six week pulmonary rehabilitation service at Netherton Activity Centre and Lakeside Christian centre.

Referrals

The service will accept referrals from GP’s, practice nurses or any other health care provider.

What to expect - why have I been referred?

A referral is made by your GP or healthcare provider for respiratory advice, if you have new symptoms, a new respiratory diagnosis or recurrent infections/exacerbations of your current condition.

Who will I see at my appointment?

You will then see either a consultant, respiratory physiotherapists, respiratory nurse, pharmacist or smoking cessation advisor? Depending on your symptoms you may see more than one professional for your assessment. This is to reduce having to return and you will be able to receive the care you need on the day.

How long will I be there?

The appointment can be up to an hour or more depending on the reason for referral so bring something along to keep you occupied.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

• Medication list
• Inhalers and spacer device if you have one
• Any current treatment plans or peak flow diary.

What happens at the appointment?

You will be asked a number of questions about your respiratory symptoms. You may be asked to perform some breathing tests to enable to diagnose and manage your condition.

The assessment will involve recording of oxygen levels, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate and a physical examination. Please wear a loose fitting top.

Please let the team know if you would prefer a chaperone. Following the assessment we will agree a management plan for the respiratory condition and inform your GP of any changes.

Will my respiratory care be transferred to the Community team?

No, your respiratory care is still the responsibility of your GP. The aim of the specialist service is to work alongside your GP to improve your respiratory condition. Once you have responded to the treatment plan, you will be discharged back to the care of your GP.

I already go to another respiratory appointment. Do I still need to come to this appointment?

No, you do not need to come. Please contact us on 0151 475 4260 to cancel the appointment so we can offer it to another person.

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens and responds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377 Freephone: 0800 328 2941 Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk