Simple breathing tests and spirometry are usually handled by primary care and practice nurses.

Whittington Health Respiratory Service (RS) covers support available for patients with more severe respiratory management needs, ensuring patients receive specialist respiratory assessment, asthma management and safe discharge planning.

Diagnosis will be checked along with inhaler choice and techniques, peak flow and spirometry. Risk factors will be addressed and signposting to helpful services. Personalised asthma plans will be given and updated.

WH RS is one of the spokes of the hub and spoke Severe Asthma service at Barts. Through this, it has access to biologics for treatment of severe asthma and will identify and refer these patients on.

The local MDT includes respiratory psychology, respiratory nurses, speech and language therapy and respiratory doctors.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

People

• age 16+
• with difficult to control asthma
• in need of review or admission to hospital
• whose diagnosis is uncertain

Exclusions

• TB referrals
• please refer to 2WW for lung cancer

How to Refer