Referral Criteria for ARAS
Referrals accepted from the in-patient nursing and medical teams and via respiratory out-patients for patients attending HOT clinic (Please refer on ICE).
The patient must have / be:
- Alert & orientated
- Be purely a respiratory admission with COPD
- Able to take their own medications or cope with their normal level of help
- Satisfactory respiratory function
- Good social support
- Able to undertake their normal activities of daily living or have adequate support in place.
Respiratory Specialist Team
Referral options for in-patients received from nursing and medical teams via ICE.
- Asthmatics
- Home oxygen assessments
- TB screening support, ie. Mantoux testing
- Advice and support for complex respiratory patients
- Inhaler device teaching and assessment
- Nebuliser advice
- Smoking cessation
Referral options for out-patients, received from Respiratory out-patients and other medical specialities. All new referrals received from primary care will be via the Respiratory consultants.
- Asthma management & treatment
- Home oxygen assessments
- TB screening
- Nebuliser assessments
Nurse led Clinics:
- Monday am alternate weeks – ARAS follow-up
- Tuesday pm – Asthma
- Thursday am – Long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) assessments
- Thursday pm – Support to the Pulmonary Fibrosis clinic
- Friday am - Long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) assessment
- Friday am – Asthma specialist treatment
Community Support
Patients receive support in their own homes under the following services. The Respiratory team work closely with primary care in providing long term support to patients through regular communication with GP’s, Community Matrons and community nursing teams along with other multidisciplinary services.
ARAS
Patients receiving home oxygen therapy – Home visits are offered when patients are commenced on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) and at annual follow-up for further support and monitoring. Patients receiving palliative oxygen therapy will be visited as needed but the majority of this support is provided in conjunction with primary care.
Patients receiving short burst oxygen therapy and generally only followed up by telephone except under exceptional circumstances.