The Community Respiratory Team aims to support people living with the burden of chronic respiratory conditions such as, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Bronchiectasis and Interstitial Lung disease. The team provides education around the condition, they encourage and support self-management within this patient group, keeping them as well as possible by enabling them to recognise deterioration and provide confidence to this patient group of which enables them to manage their respiratory condition independently with an agreed management plan. In turn this avoids unwanted hospital admissions and exacerbations of their condition.
The Community Respiratory team is made up of specialist nurses, physiotherapists, care support workers & administrators. The team work closely with GP’s and practice Nurses to facilitate the best care for their patients for example, this may be to optimise medications.
The team also works closely with the chest clinic at University Hospitals Plymouth and liaises with the Respiratory Consultants, oxygen clinic and the home ventilation team and will often refer patients to these teams if they feel additional input is required to prevent their patients deteriorating.
Our aims:
- Optimise medications – Including assessments for nebuliser therapy
- Provide and facilitate the co-ordination of care for people with respiratory conditions
- Undertake a respiratory assessment of the patient including pulse oximetry, chest auscultation, and correct inhaler device assessment/inhaler technique
- Educate patients, and their carers, about conditions and medications, and how to self-manage
- Prevent unnecessary GP and 999 calls
- Prevent unnecessary hospital admissions by early and rapid intervention in acute exacerbations
- Liaise with secondary care to facilitate early supported discharge from hospital to the community
- Provide an accessible Pulmonary Rehabilitation service
- Respiratory Physiotherapists are responsible for assisting with airway clearance, dysfunctional breathing, sputum retention, and reduced exercise tolerance, as well as anxiety and energy management.
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme
The team run Pulmonary Rehabilitation, this is a programme that consists of exercise and education for people with chronic lung conditions like COPD who experience breathlessness. It involves individually tailored physical exercise, education on managing the condition, and support to improve fitness, stamina, and overall health and wellbeing. The programme runs twice weekly, over six weeks.
This is currently running in Plymouth and West Devon.
- Plymouth location – ELM centre in Estover – Monday’s and Thursday’s
- West Devon location – Lamerton Village Hall – Monday’s and Wednesday’s.
Aims of Pulmonary Rehab:
- Reduces breathlessness
- Increases physical activity and endurance
- Improves overall health and quality of life
- Helps manage the condition and its symptom burden
- Can help you feel more in control of your condition
- Can reduce the frequency of hospital admissions and exacerbations
Referral
Referrals can be received by any healthcare professional.
Useful Links
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Asthma + Lung UK
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
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