Respiratory Hub

The Early Respiratory Diagnostics Project: Addressing a critical healthcare gap in the Armagh & Dungannon area.

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A physiologist led mobile lung function lab that serves the rural population over 140,000 patients across 22 GP practices. The objective is to reduce respiratory referrals to secondary care through timely access to quality assured advanced lung function testing in Primary Care. 

 

Two clinics per week offering twelve, one hour appointments. Ndd Prolab portable lung function machine and Niox FeNO enabling Spirometry reversibility, DLCO and FeNO testing in primary care.

Exclusion Criteria: Individuals already under a respiratory consultant, individuals with contraindications.

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Criteria for further investigations in secondary care - Individuals unknown to secondary care with :

•New diagnosis of very severe COPD (FEV1 z-score <4.1 (30% predicted)

•Query of Restrictive lung disease- Gas exchange abnormality with normal/ suspected restrictive spirometry

•Query of a pulmonary micro circulation disorder - Gas exchange abnormality with normal/restrictive spirometry unknown to secondary care

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Improving access to quality assured advanced lung function testing at the earliest point leads to; earlier and more accurate diagnoses, more refined referral pathways, fast tracked treatment pathways, enhanced patient care and overall improved health outcomes while reducing strain on secondary care services.​​​​​​​​