The respiratory department provides the following services
Specialist inpatient services
Currently the specialist ward at Bournemouth is ward 2 and at Poole is ward A4. In 2026 there will be 2 purpose built wards in the new Coast building. This will provide facilities for a respiratory high care area to support patients requiring non-invasive ventilation and more specialist support. There will be an area to provide pleural services and procedures.
Outpatient services
A full range of outpatient services will be provided on both sides. This will include consultant lead clinics and nurse lead specialist clinics.
Specialist nurses
Specialist nurses with expertise in managing COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis and delivery of home oxygen services. Inpatient reviews and support to outpatients. Hospital at home including admission avoidance and early supported discharge
Lung cancer services
The lung cancer nurse specialists have expertise in all aspects of cancer diagnosis and subsequent management and will help support patient throughout their journey. This includes patients who referred for surgical management and for those undergoing oncological treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Tuberculosis specialist nursing
This expert team is able to manage patients with suspected tuberculosis and supervise treatment for those with active disease. They can undertake screening for those exposed to tuberculosis and contact tracing. They also manage patients with latent TB and can provide advice on investigations, management and any problems with treatment.
Pulmonary rehabilitation and specialist physiotherapy services
In-house pulmonary visit rehabilitation is offered on the Bournemouth site for those people with more complex respiratory disease including those on oxygen. This is complementary to the community pulmonary rehabilitation service. Specialist physiotherapist are able to support patients with a range of respiratory disease both as inpatient and outpatients.
Pulmonary Lung function testing
This Lung function equipment is available on both sites and testing is managed by specialist respiratory physiologists. This includes spirometry, FeNO testing, lung volumes and gas transfer. In addition they provide overnight oximetry screening for OSA.
Endoscopic investigations including bronchoscopy and EBUS
Clinicians within the respiratory team undertake specialist investigations which include endoscopic bronchoscopy and EBUS. They also undertake pleural procedure such as chest drains pleural aspirations and insertion of chest drains and indwelling pleural catheters