About the Respiratory Centre

The Respiratory Centre (TRC) was established during the winter of 1999/2000 to help reduce hospital admissions, length of stay and improve the quality of care for local chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. 

TRC has developed considerably in recent years to provide intermediate care for a wider spectrum of respiratory disease. It has piloted telemedicine schemes and developed intermediate care services to support patients with difficult asthma, allergies, interstitial lung disease, respiratory failure needing domiciliary ventilatory support and those in need of end of life care.

The Respiratory Centre works very closely with the pulmonary function laboratory which has a skilled body of professional staff who play an important role in the team approach to patient care and investigations into lung diseases. It was established in the mid-sixties at the Western Hospital, and transferred to its current location at the Southampton General Hospital in 1978.

Over the years the pulmonary function laboratory has developed steadily, keeping up with new techniques and developments in the area of respiratory disease. In 2010 the department underwent major change, including the appointment of a new chief technician. Investment has been made in the purchase of new equipment enabling the staff to ensure the results conform to ARTP/BTS guidelines and this has enabled us to increase the number of procedures we can offer.

The Respiratory Centre provides intermediate care for people who have certain types of long-term breathing difficulties, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease (ILD), bronchiectasis and asthma.  In addition to this the Respiratory Centre provides a point of access for the allergy and immunology department. 

The Respiratory Centre is one of the UK's leading intermediate care centres for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Intermediate care means the healthcare services you receive that bridge the gap between primary care (from your GP) and secondary or tertiary care (from your hospital consultant or specialist). By providing this 'in the middle' type of care, the centre aims to reduce the number of people who have to be admitted to hospital or, if you are admitted, reduce the length of time you have to spend in hospital.