The MSECC Respiratory Workstream saw the first of three Spirometry Diagnostic Units arrive on Monday 11 April at Rochford Community Hospital. EPUT colleagues were excited to see the unit arrive and two further units will be delivered to Provide and NELFT venues in the coming months.

The Spirometry Diagnostic Units are part of key work to increase respiratory support available to patients, reduce waiting times for care provision and provide a safe environment to treat respiratory issues.

The units overcome difficulties in providing adequate spaces in busy health facilities to safely treat respiratory illnesses. They also enable us to provide secure support at specially dedicated onsite facilities, providing support to patients in a location where service users will not be in close proximity to high-traffic areas of health campuses prone to respiratory-based infections and specifically reduces risks related to COVID-19.

The purpose built modular clinical unit, supplied by CliniCabin, before being transported to Rochford Community Hospital.

It was lowered into position at the site which had been prepared for its arrival.

Inside the cabin: the final preparations and installation of medical equipment will take place over the next few weeks ready for the first patients to be seen towards the end of April 2022.

Dr Abigail Moore and Dr Sharon Hadley, Co-Clinical Leads for Respiratory, MSE Health and Care Partnership said:

“By using units such as these, patients are able to access care closer to home because we have more flexibility in choosing sites to deliver our services, which helps reduce health inequalities. It also builds resilience and sustainability into the system; helps to future-proof and safeguard against long term issues/future health challenges.  By creating this capacity we are giving patients access to essential diagnostic services and clinical expertise to ensure the correct diagnosis. This would result in better personalised care with reduced risks.

Thank you to all colleagues involved in making this happen, the impact of this will include:

• Reduced backlog

• Reduced referrals to secondary care

• Reduced admissions to hospital

• Reduced health inequalities

• Improved quality of care

• Meeting an unmet need in current climate of health crisis."

We will share further information as this work progresses.