Breathing Easier: Comprehensive Respiratory Care and Support for Chronic Conditions
Overview
Our Respiratory Service is dedicated to providing care and support to individuals with respiratory diseases, with a particular focus on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Additionally, we offer oxygen assessment services.
Who Is This Service For? Eligibility Criteria
Our service is available to adults (aged 18 and above) who are registered with a GP in the NHS Mid Essex area and have a chronic respiratory condition.
Exclusions: We are unable to treat patients with acute asthma or lung cancer.
Service Details
We offer a range of services to support individuals with respiratory conditions, including:
- Oxygen assessment services.
- Care and support for the following conditions:
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
- Hyperventilation syndrome.
- Dysfunctional breathing.
- Pulmonary fibrosis.
- Chronic asthma.
- Some patients awaiting a lung transplant.
Treatment Options Include:
- A self-management programme for patients with pulmonary disease.
- Rapid response services: Same-day visits on weekdays for patients whose condition deteriorates. Our goal is to provide treatment at home, reducing the need for hospital visits.
- Oxygen therapy assessments.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation: This includes an exercise programme, education, and nutrition advice, designed to enhance the independence of individuals with lung diseases.
- Palliative care.
- Telehealth service: This includes a self-monitoring system that checks your blood pressure, oxygen saturations, and changes in your breathing pattern.
Our dedicated team comprises respiratory and oxygen assessment nurses, physiotherapists, healthcare support workers, and administrative staff. We collaborate closely with various other healthcare professionals, including GPs, respiratory consultants, and hospital and community teams.
Service Delivery
Our clinics are available at various times from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 5 pm, at the following locations:
- Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.
- St Michael’s Hospital, Braintree.
- St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon.
- Halstead Hospital.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation sessions run at various times Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 6 pm, at the following locations:
- St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon.
- Braintree Sports Centre Tabor School, Braintree.
- Springfield Parish Centre, Chelmsford.
Breathe Easy groups meet as follows:
- Braintree: Third Thursday of every month, 2 pm to 4 pm, at Braintree Baptist Church, Blythe Meadow, Coggeshall Road, Braintree CM7 3DA.
Our Rapid Response service operates in patients’ homes Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 5 pm, including bank holidays.
Our office is based at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.
Referral Process
You must be referred by a healthcare professional, such as a GP, respiratory consultant, or physiotherapist. If you have been treated by us previously, you can refer yourself by calling the number provided in the contacts box on this page.
Waiting Times
The average waiting time for an appointment is six weeks from the date of referral. If your referral is urgent, you will typically be seen on the day of referral.
Patient Feedback
Our commitment to delivering high-quality care is reflected in patient feedback:
- 100% reported that they were treated with respect and dignity.
- 100% expressed confidence in the healthcare professional they saw.
- 100% noted that the clinic was clean.
- 100% found the transport service to be helpful.
- 99% mentioned that their appointment time was convenient.
- 99% stated they understood the information provided to them.
This service can be accessed through our Care Co-ordination Centre
Available Monday to Friday
8am to 6pm
Call Us
0300 1310 111
If you are registered with SystmOnline you will be able to view your own Electronic Medical Record (EMR), manage your appointments, request repeat medication, update contact details and message your healthcare service. There is also a SystmOnline app available for Apple and Android devices.