Respiratory
CONTENT UNDER REVIEW
Who to refer
Supporting Referral Guidance is currently under development for each category.
How to refer
- Referrals to the NHS Tayside Respiratory Department should be made to sub-speciality teams based on the patients known or most likely diagnosis. In cases where it is unclear which sub-specialty the patient fits into, please refer in to the “Respiratory- Breathlessness, cough and general ” pathway.
- When asking admin teams to initiate referrals, it will be important to specifically mention which referral pathway you wish your patient to be referred in to. The referral process is the same whether you wish to refer in to the Ninewells or Perth site.
- The referral pathways accessible via SCI/Gateway/Respiratory/, are as follows;
- Respiratory - Airways Disease (AQTB)
- Respiratory - Infection, Bronchiectasis, TB (AQTC)
- Respiratory - Sleep Apnoea (AQTA)
- Respiratory - Suspicion of Lung Cancer (AQD)
- Respiratory - Pleural Pathway (AQT0)
- Respiratory - Interstitial Lung Disease (AQT2)
- Respiratory - Breathlessness, Cough and General (AQT5)
- If on clinical review, it is felt that patients would be best served within a different pathway, the respiratory team will re-direct this referral. You will not be asked to re-refer.
- We believe sub-specialty vetting will result in the following improvements:
- Improve time taken to vet and allocate referrals.
- Allow enhanced advice for GPs/community teams and facilitate patient care to be delivered in the community by these teams with specialist support.
- Ensure the right person is delivering the right care to patients at the right time.
- Improve patient pathways, specifically in allowing appropriate investigations to be arranged prior to patient review. This will improve diagnostic pathways and likely reduce number of outpatient visits patients need to attend.
- Facilitate the development of “hot clinics” for sub-specialities to manage patients who require urgent review. This will benefit symptomatic patients who are in urgent need and reduce unscheduled admissions.