Complex Respiratory Management

We specialise in treating and caring for patients with complicated respiratory conditions. This includes respiratory failure, which may be as a result of a high level spinal cord injury, an acquired brain injury, degenerative neurological disorder or cardio-respiratory disease. 

Tracheostomy

Many of our patients have a tracheostomy, which is a surgical opening in front of the trachea (windpipe) through the skin of the neck through which a tube is inserted. This allows the patient to breathe freely if their normal airway is blocked or unusable. It is also used to remove unwanted fluids produced by the lower respiratory tract and may be temporary or permanent. Where it is safe for the patient, we work with them to gradually wean them off the tracheostomy.

Mechanical ventilation

An increasing number of patients have mechanical ventilation to assist or take over their breathing. This is life changing but many go on to have a very good quality of life.  Modern machines have various settings giving increased flexibility, enabling them to be used when weaning a patient from a ventilator.

Expert nursing

We provide continuous expert nursing for patients with a tracheostomy. To ensure our patients are safe, well cared for and the risk of complications is minimised, our nurses and physiotherapists take part in a structured programme of training and competency assessment.