Respiratory Medicine (GP information)

Introduction

The Respiratory Department offers a full inpatient and outpatient medical service, delivered by a Multi-Disciplinary team (MDT) which treats adults with conditions affecting the respiratory tract, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, respiratory infections and bronchiectasis, tuberculosis (TB), interstitial lung disease and sarcoidosis, pleural disease and sleep disorder. Diagnostic facilities are also provided for the majority of respiratory conditions.

The Respiratory Department is supported by 6 full-time consultants, an associate specialist, 4 full-time respiratory physiologists, 6 full-time respiratory nurse specialists and 2 full-time lung cancer nurse specialists with additional support from 2 TB nurse specialists. There is a fully equipped lung function, diagnostic sleep service and CPAP service as well as excellent radiology services. There are 3 bronchoscopy and EBUS lists per week which ensure patients can have procedures without delay. There is also a visiting Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon who comes across from Harefield Hospital every week.

The Department also has close links with the community based respiratory nurse specialists, Macmillan palliative care nurses and community matrons. The department is currently expanding with the imminent appointment of additional consultants in order to further improve and expand the services available.

Referral Process

Referrals are accepted via E-RS only.

Procedures Provided

The department offers a full physiological assessment including:

  • Full lung function
  • Provocation testing
  • Sleep studies
  • Flight assessments
  • Oxygen assessment
  • Exhaled nitric oxide
  • Manometry studies
  • Bronchoscopy with Lavage Endobronchial biopsies, transbronchial biopsies and transbronchial needle aspiration
  • Pleural aspiration and biopsy
  • Endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS)
  • Exercise induced asthma
  • Skin prick testing allergy profiles

Clinics

Dr Pillai
Dedicated One Stop Clinic on a Monday afternoon for patients with suspected lung cancer with access to CT scanning and lung function. Sub-specialising in TB (clinic on Wednesday afternoon with TB Nurse Specialist support), sleep and ventilation, COPD and general respiratory conditions with clinics on a Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning clinic.

Dr Ramsay
Dedicated One Stop Clinic on a Monday afternoon for patients with suspected lung cancer with access to CT scanning and lung function.

Sub-specialising in pleural disease and COPD. Specialist bronchiectasis clinic with respiratory physiotherapist present to offer advice and guidance in a clinical setting. Clinics on Wednesday morning and monthly Thursday evenings.

Dr Tariq
Sub-specialising in COPD and asthma with clinics on a Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon. Specialist TB clinic, supported by TB Nurse Specialists, on a Friday afternoon. Also supports ILD clinics which are run in conjunction with Rheumatologists.

Dr Chapman
Dedicated One Stop Clinic on a Monday afternoon for patients with suspected lung cancer with access to CT scanning and lung function. Also sub-specialising in pleural disease, COPD, asthma and general respiratory conditions with clinics on a Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning

Dr Ramsundar
Sub-specialising in sleep and ventilation, palliative care and COPD. Monthly dedicated ILD clinic run in conjunction with Rheumatology support. General clinics Tuesday morning and Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

Dr Southern
Dedicated One Stop Clinic on a Monday afternoon for patients with suspected lung cancer with access to CT scanning and lung function. Also sub-specialising in pleural disease and general respiratory conditions with clinics on a Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Specialist bronchiectasis clinic with respiratory physiotherapist present to offer advice and guidance in a clinical setting.

Respiratory Nurse Clinics
Our team of respiratory nurses run independent clinics looking after patients with COPD, difficult asthma, interstitial lung disease and oxygen requirements in addition to running anti IgE clinics. The respiratory nurses are also involved in the provision of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programmes which run across 3 sites, covering Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable.

The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital has excellent tertiary links with Mount Vernon, Harefield, Addenbrookes, Papworth and the Royal Free and Royal Brompton hospitals in addition to St Marys Hospital London.

Visiting Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon attends Lung MDT Meeting on a Wednesday afternoon and runs an outpatient clinic for pre and postoperative patients on a Wednesday afternoon here at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital.

Psychological Support for Respiratory Difficulties in Bedfordshire

We are here to help and support people to manage the symptoms of their respiratory illness and gain a better quality of life.

This leaflet explains the psychological support available to you within the Respiratory Medicine Services at Bedford and Luton & Dunstable Hospitals.

Who we are
We are set up as part of the integrated COPD service and the Respiratory Medicine clinics of the Luton & Dunstable and Bedford Hospitals. We have a counselling psychologist who offers individual and group interventions as well as support to other professionals.

How can I benefit from meeting with a psychologist?
Each person with respiratory problems will have a different set of challenges, although many of the issues may be similar. You may develop negative feelings such as stress, worry, anxiety and/or low mood as well as unhelpful thoughts. This, in turn, may lead to poor health management and an exacerbation of respiratory conditions. During therapeutic sessions we can talk about your own experience in a non-judgemental space. We can explore how your physical health impacts upon your life and then look at how you would like your life to improve alongside your respiratory condition. Psychological therapy can help you identify what changes are achievable and meaningful to you. Therapy may then help you to develop new skills and/or expand your existing skills to help you work towards your desired changes. Further details can be found here.

Patient Information Leaflets

Clinicians - Consultants/Specialist Nurses

Bedford Hospital

Respiratory Medicine

AmyFitzharris Secretary
SelinaRahman Secretary
JulieRowlands Reception
TiaTowns Reception
RachaelGeary Head of Physiology Services (Cross Site)
ColetteThomas Lead TB Specialist Nurse
SusanJessop Lead Lung Specialist Nurse
FionaMaryan-Instone Lead Lung Cancer Specialist Nurse
DrMNegmeldin Locum Consultant
DrBJallow Locum Consultant
DrAIslam Locum Consultant
DrTCahn Honorary Consultant
DrMAzher Consultant
Luton & Dunstable University Hospital

Respiratory Medicine

Shadiqur Rahman Secretary to Dr Pillai, Dr Tariq, Dr Gnanapragasam and Mr Finch
DrVijayJoshi Consultant
LizanDrummond Respiratory Nurse Specialist
DrIainSouthern MDT Lead - Respiratory
DrJamesRamsay Respiratory Consultant
DrParthipan Pillai Respiratory Consultant
DrSyedTariq Respiratory Consultant
DrNatashaRamsundar Consultant
Farida Parkar Respiratory CNS
Eunice Ogundimu Secretary to the Respiratory Nurse Specialists
Jillian Muwezwa Respiratory Nurse Specialist
JuliaGraves Respiratory Nurse Specialist
ClaireTipping Respiratory Nurse Specialist
LouiseFitzpatrick Secretary to Dr Chapman
Beverley Gardner Admin Lead and Secretary to Dr Ramsay
JulieMilburn Secretary to Dr Southern, Dr Ramsundar and Dr Joshi
LizPoll Respiratory Nurse Specialist

Useful Contacts

Luton & Dunstable University Hospital
General Manager Farida Parkar
Farida.Parkar@ldh.nhs.uk
Chest Clinic reception: 01582 497227
Clinical Director: Dr Parthipan Pillai
Ldh-tr.respiratorysecretaries@nhs.net
Outpatients booking department: 01582 561385
PALS (for patient specific enquiries) 01582 491 166
PALS@ldh.nhs.uk
Bleep numbers: 141, 484, 521
Switchboard 01582 491166
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