Oxford Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre (OACFC) team

Consultants

Dr Stephen Chapman

Dr Chapman graduated from the University of Oxford with a first-class degree and remained in Oxford for specialist training.

He was appointed as Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals in 2010, and has subspecialty clinical interests in cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia and complex lung infection.

Dr Chapman publishes in a diverse range of fields, including clinical medicine, human genetics and the medical humanities; his research on lung infection has been published extensively in world-leading medical and scientific journals (including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Genetics, Nature Reviews Genetics, Nature Communications and Science).

He has been named an 'Outstanding Young Investigator' by the American Thoracic Society and was awarded the Linacre Medal by the Royal College of Physicians, London.

Dr Chapman is coauthor of the Oxford Handbook of Respiratory Medicine (Oxford University Press, currently in fourth edition) and Editor-in-Chief of the international respiratory medicine journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research.

Dr William Flowers

Dr Flowers was appointed as a Consultant in Adult Cystic Fibrosis, Bronchiectasis and Respiratory Medicine in 2023.

He graduated in medicine from the University of Sheffield in 2010 and undertook higher specialist training in Respiratory and General Internal Medicine in Cambridge, Papworth and the East of England.

He specialises in adult cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis, with expertise in nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection and chronic fungal lung diseases, gained during a four-year fellowship at the Cambridge Centre for Lung Infection at Royal Papworth Hospital.

His research at the University of Cambridge investigated genetic variants in bronchiectasis and mechanisms underlying airway biology and immune cell function in the condition, where he was supervised by Professor Andres Floto in the Molecular Immunity Unit at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.

Dr Natasha Hough

Biography pending.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is key to the management of cystic fibrosis (CF). Our specialist CF physiotherapists provide support to patients in routine clinics, as outpatients in between clinic visits as required.

Patients see a physiotherapist at each clinic appointment, and twice-daily while in hospital.

The physiotherapy service can help with:

• review of inpatients with Cystic Fibrosis to optimise airway clearance
• outpatient airway clearance support and advice
• non-invasive ventilation
• optimising inhaled therapies (including use of all types of inhaled and nebulised treatments)
• exercise assessment, prescription and advice
• posture advice and assessment of musculoskeletal problems
• pelvic floor exercises
• CFHealthHub adherence support

Physiotherapy team

Ali Gates

Lead CF Physiotherapist and Independent Prescriber

Jayne Faulkner

Jo Hobbs

Alice Midwinter

Davide Strappelli

Harriet Day

Other staff

Rotational Band 6 Respiratory Physiotherapist

Useful resources

Physiotherapy Resources - Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Dietetics

Maintaining a healthy body weight is a key part of keeping well with CF. We have a team of specialist dietitians who have a great deal of experience, and patients see a dietitian at each clinic visit and at least twice a week while in hospital.

CF dietitians will help with a range of issues.

• Eating well with CF
• Gut issues including constipation and DIOS
• Advice on vitamin supplements
• Nutritional supplements
• Adjustment of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy
• Bone health
• Weight management
• Managing CF-related diabetes

Dietitians

Jo Snowball

Lead Dietitian

Pharmacy

Specialist Pharmacy support is provided by Sarah Poole, Lead Respiratory Pharmacist, and Chun Fai Ng.

Sarah and the Pharmacy Team are involved in the prescription and dispensing of medicines both in clinic and on the ward. A pharmacist will see patients as part of their annual review, and is always available to the team to help with queries regarding medicines.

Home care supply of high-cost medicines

The specialist CF Pharmacy Team co-ordinates the supply of certain high-cost medicines under a home care agreement with BUPA.

Medicines supplied by Lloyds include:

• intravenous Tobramycin
  
• most nebulised and dry-powder inhaled antibiotics (e.g. TOBI Podhaler, Colobreathe, nebulised tobramycin/colistin/aztreonam)
  
• Ivacaftor
• Kaftrio

Please make sure someone is at home to take delivery of any home care medicines. We are charged if the company has to make a second delivery!

Clinical Psychology

Kate Chapman is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in cystic fibrosis. She is an integral member of our multidisciplinary team and is available to provide support to patients in clinic, at annual review and during inpatient admissions.

Kate is able to provide help with the following:

• stress and anxiety
• depression and problems with low mood
• sleep difficulties
• relationship and family issues
• anger management
• confidence and self-esteem.

Specialist Nurses

Our knowledgeable and experienced team of CF Specialist Nurses provides:

• an advice line for patient problems and queries
• cannula and mid-line placement
• administration of IV antibiotics
• management of Port-a-cath devices
• training for patients in home antibiotic therapy
• co-ordination of annual CF reviews
• trials of nebulised medicines
• home visits
• inpatient support
• links with the Oxford Paediatric CF team.

Specialist Nurse Team

Cathie Male - Lead Nurse

MDT Assistant Practitioner

Ruthuvik Aurokumar

Ru's role is to support the whole multidisciplinary team. He has a particular interest in supporting people with CF to become more active.

CF HealthHub

Quality Improvement leads

Tracy Barnett

Louise Warnock

Lou and Tracy are both Physiotherapists. CFHealthHub (CFHH) offers non-judgmental conversations to help build improved nebuliser treatment habits, as well as support with issues with your e-track equipment.

We also contribute to work on the national CFHealthHub research platform. Please contact the department if you would like to learn more.

Administration

• Connie Fine
• Natasha Richardson