Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy

Heart, lung and blood vessels

Our cardiorespiratory physiotherapists assist patients with cardiovascular and respiratory problems. These difficulties may be as a result of long standing disease e.g. asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), surgery or a condition requiring a stay in intensive care.

Inpatients

• The team provides treatment and advice in the field of respiratory care and also to patients with acute mobility problems. Patients that may benefit from input include:
• High risk upper abdominal surgery patients (>75 years, COPD or chronic respiratory disease, ↑ BMI, general weakness).
• Patients with ineffective coughs due to neurological injuries, eg: SCI, MND, GBS
• Major trauma patients with chest injuries, eg: rib fractures
• Patients in respiratory distress i.e. unable to clear their secretions, ↑ WOB, lung collapse
• Patients with reduced mobility i.e. recent discharge from ITU (RSCH or other), general malaise and weakness, elderly patients
• HDU and ITU patients

Outpatients

This service also provides treatment to outpatients in the areas of:

Pulmonary rehabilitation

This 6 week course of exercise and education promotes health and well being for people with long term breathing problems.

Cardiac rehabilitation

Rehabilitation patients are assessed in the physiotherapy department and offered a 6 week course of structured comprehensive exercise and education known as ‘Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation”. This includes supervised exe