Respiratory care team (Richmond)

The Respiratory Care Team (RCT) provides specialist assessment and case management for patients with long-term respiratory conditions, including COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

The aims of the service are to:

  • maintain or reduce symptoms
  • improve functional performance
  • increase patient and carer education to promote self-management
  • reduce the risk of exacerbations
  • help minimise the impact of their condition & maximise quality of life
  • reduce use of unplanned care, including emergency admissions or re-admissions

 

The service includes:

  • regular reviews; full respiratory assessment, spirometry, inhaler / medication advice, oxygen screening, self-management advice. (The frequency of reviews is  dependent on severity & stability of your respiratory condition)
  • exacerbation support, working alongside RRRT with admission avoidance
  • post-hospital discharge reviews
  • outpatient clinics at Centre House and Teddington Health & Social Care Centre
  • home visits for housebound  patients
  • pulmonary rehabilitation classes at Teddington Memorial Hospital and Richmond Rehab Unit
  • BREATH education sessions for all newly diagnosed COPD patients
  • home oxygen service assessment and review (HOSAR)

  

Useful links: 

The British Lung Foundation is a UK charity that promotes lung health and supports people with lung disease www.blf.org.uk 

The Respiratory Care Team is based at Whitton Health and Social Care Centre.

They also:

  • hold outpatient clinics and classes at other sites
  • provide telephone advice
  • visit housebound patients in their homes

 

Service base

2nd Floor, Whitton Health and Social Care Centre
Percy Road
Twickenham
TW2 6JL

Tel: 020 8487 1783
Email: richmond.rct@nhs.net

  • Hannah Brown,  Respiratory Physiotherapist and Team Lead
  • Anna Thorz,  Respiratory Nurse and Team Lead
  • Ekta Dhillon, Respiratory Physiotherapist  
  • Sylvia Joao, Respiratory Physotherapist 
  • Andreea Micu, Respiratory Nurse
  • Lucia Bramble-Boyd, Respiratory Nurse
  • Sian Price, Therapy Assistant 
  • Joanna Saunders, Lead Administrator

All referrals to the team should be made using the HRCH referral form through the trust's Single Point of Access service.

Referral criteria

This service is for patients:

  • who are aged 18 and over
  • who are registered with a GP within the NHS Richmond CCG area
  • who have a diagnosed long-term respiratory condition – including COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis
     

Exclusion criteria

  • Breathless patients without confirmed respiratory diagnosis
  • Asthma
  • Non-respiratory home oxygen (should be reviewed by the healthcare professional who completed initial oxygen prescription)

Opening times: 

Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 5.30pm