Oxford ILD clinics

Appointments

Face to face

In most instances, we will see you in our Respiratory Clinic for a face to face consultation. We prefer this, as it enables us to make a physical assessment.

Video

We may offer you a video consultation. You will not need to come to hospital. We will arrange access to 'Attend Anywhere' for the consultation. (You will need a suitable device and internet connection).

Telephone

We may offer you a telephone consultation. You will not need to come to hospital. We will call you around the time of your booked appointment.

Respiratory Clinic

Before your visit, it may be helpful to write down any questions you have.

If our visiting rules permit, you may wish to bring someone with you, to help you ask questions and remember what we tell you.

You may find it helpful to:

• write down the name of a new diagnosis, medicines, treatments or tests
  
• understand why we are prescribing a new medicine or treatment, how it will help you, and possible side effects
• ask if your condition can be treated in other ways
• understand why a test or procedure is recommended, and what the results could mean for you
• know what to expect if you do not take the medicine, or have the test or procedure
• find out how to contact us if you have questions afterwards.
  

Diagnosis and tests

You may need various tests to establish the extent of your condition, show disease progression, aid diagnosis or determine treatment outcomes.

Such tests may include:

• Lung function test - Spirometry
• Computerised Tomography (CT) - CT scans (pdf)
• Echocardiogram - Echocardiogram (pdf)
• X-ray - visit Drop-in services for general X-rays
  
• Blood tests - visit Phlebotomy (blood tests)
• Bronchoscopy
  A flexible tube called a bronchoscope is inserted via the mouth or nose to examine the main airways of the lungs.
• Lung biopsy
  This involves removing a small piece of tissue from the lung so it can be examined under a microscope.

Day Case Clinic

A member of the nursing team will greet you when you arrive. Please allow several hours for your visit, and bring something to do while you wait. We have free WiFi - 'OUH Guest'.

You are welcome to bring something to eat or drink, and there are facilities on site.

We ask you to:

• dress comfortably for the day
  
• take a lateral flow test for COVID-19 before you come in.

Please arrive a few hours before your clinic review appointment, so we can make some observations and do some tests - this helps us understand how your health is on that day, and plan your treatment.

Observations

• Blood pressure (BP) test
• Oxygen saturation levels
• Heart rate

Tests

• 6 Minute Walk Test
  
• Spirometry
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  
• Blood tests

Our team

• Karen Parsons
  ILD Specialist Nurse
• Carmine Ruggiero
  ILD Specialist Nurse
• Fiona Lindsey
  ILD Specialist Nurse
• Nicola Bracey
  ILD Specialist Nurse
• Shakila Hussain
  ILD Clinical Support Worker
• Dr Peter Saunders
  ILD Consultant
  

Inpatients

Patients with interstitial lung disease may experience periods of acute deterioration in respiratory function.

We care for our patients at the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Horton General hospitals.

If you are admitted as an inpatient, our specialist team will monitor you closely, and you may need further tests/investigations. We may also discuss your care at our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting.

Community support

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a programme designed to help manage breathlessness and promote activity. If PR is appropriate for you, we will refer you.

You will receive an individual assessment, exercises specifically for you, and advice on how to manage your condition.

Programmes run in community and healthcare settings in:

• Abingdon
• Banbury
  
• Bicester
  
• Chipping Norton
  
• Didcot
  
• Oxford (OXSRAD gym)
  
• Wantage
  
• Witney

and are available locally to patients from outside Oxfordshire who attend our clinic.

Palliative care

Palliative care is provided in a choice of inpatient and community settings.