Respiratory

Our Respiratory Specialty Delivery Group (SDG) includes nominated multidisciplinary representation from all NHS Boards providing respiratory services in Scotland.

Processes 

We will be working with NHS Boards to embed Active Clinical Referral Triage and Discharge Patient Initiated Review within Respiratory services to ensure this patient centered approach is available wherever appropriate. 

Pathways 

The Respiratory SDG is currently developing the following pathways: 

• Chronic cough 
• Severe asthma 
• Chronic obstructive airways disease 
• Interstitial lung disease 
• Obstructive sleep apnoea 

Workforce 

We currently have an Advanced Practice Network for all non-medical advanced practice clinicians. This group aims to offer peer support for those wishing to further develop advanced practice roles within respiratory. 

The Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Subgroup is currently developing a knowledge and skills framework for Advanced Practice Physiotherapy in Respiratory and looking for opportunities to capture and share the impact of advanced practice physiotherapist within the respiratory speciality. 

Innovation 

The multi-professional Sleep Apnoea Improvement Group is conducting a service evaluation of a device that diagnoses obstructive sleep apnoea through recording mandibular movement. 

Measurement 

The SDG continues to develop measurement to ensure the programmes detailed above have the desired benefits for our patients.

This includes data captured as part of the CfSD Heatmaps to support implementation of processes such as Active Clinical Referral Triage and Discharge Patient Initiated Review and increased use of the CfSD Heatmap data collection.