Respiratory therapy
The Respiratory Therapy team at Poole Hospital consists of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapy technicians.
We provide a service to the medical wards, surgical wards, oncology wards, critical care and the acute medical unit. We provide respiratory and rehabilitation input to patients admitted to: A4, A5, the acute medical unit, CCU, SAU, C3, C4, Cornelia, Sandbanks, Durlston and Critical care.
What we do?
As a therapy team we work together to assess and treat patients referred by the surgical, medical and oncology teams due to an acute episode of illness or surgical input. We treat a wide range of patients who have been referred for chest and/or mobility issues occurring during their stay.
We provide respiratory input including acute respiratory care and chronic respiratory disease management alongside rehabilitation to enable patients to safely go home. We provide exercises, advice, support and equipment to facilitate independence.
We work closely with members of the multi-disciplinary team, including nurses, social workers and doctors, as well as liaising with community services for further treatment if required.
Useful information
Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 08:30am – 4:30pm.
We provide an on-call service physiotherapy service overnight and at weekends to cover deteriorating patients and patients on critical care. We also provide a weekend service between the hours of 8:30am - 4:30pm for new patients admitted to the Acute Medical Unit or patients who require additional therapy sessions as highlighted by their weekday therapist.
Location: The respiratory office is located in the therapies department, though the team works mainly on the wards.
Therapy outpatients reception: 0300 019 2582
Short of breath - coping techniques
Being short of breath can be very scary, it is important to learn techniques to enable you to cope with your daily routine. See below for helpful information on this:
Clearing your chest
The following leaflet demonstrate ways to effectively clear sputum from your chest.
Coughing: Coughing clears your airways of sputum and irritants such as dust or smoke. A productive cough or chesty cough means sputum is coughed and cleared from your airways which will allow you to breathe more easily as the sputum will not be blocking your airways. A non-productive or dry cough can be caused by dryness or a sensation of something in the throat that does not shift with coughing however you are able to breathe normally.
What is a Chronic Cough?
Most coughs clear up within three weeks and don't require any treatment. A cough becomes chronic when it persists after three weeks, sputum has been cleared from the airways and infections have resolved but the cough remains.
It is possible that your throat may become irritated after an infection has resolved, if this happens there can be an increased urge to keep coughing. It is important to avoid a cycle of continual coughing as it can cause pain and tenderness in the throat, upper chest area, stomach and pain in the abdominal muscles.
What can cause a cough?
Short term cough causes:
- A flare-up of a long-term pulmonary (lung) condition such as; asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- An upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), that affects the throat, windpipe or sinuses such as; the flu, a cold, laryngitis or sinusitis.
- A lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) that affects your lungs or lower airways, such as; pneumonia.
- An allergy such as hay fever.
- Inhaled dust or smoke, mis-swallowing of food or liquids.
Chronic cough causes:
- A long-term respiratory tract infection.
- Long term pulmonary (lung) conditions such as; asthma or Bronchiectasis.
- Allergies or smoking.
- Sputum dripping down the throat from the back of the nose, caused by conditions such as rhinitis or sinusitis.
- Certain types of prescribed medicine, i.e medicines to treat high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Cough suppression techniques
The following techniques can be used to help suppress a cough. They can be used together or apart as you see fit, you know your cough triggers best and will therefore know which suppression techniques work for you. They must be used consistently to self-manage your cough. Aim to keep working at suppressing the cough for as long as each bout of coughing continues.
Use a combination of the following techniques below if you feel a cough coming on:
The Hold, Blow, Sip, Swallow technique:
- Identify the sensations you have in your throat just before you start coughing. Is it a scratching, tickling, catching or a ‘closing’ sensation? The moment you experience the sensation…
- Hold your breath for a count to five – 1,2,3,4,5
- Blow the air out of your mouth as if blowing candles.
- Sip some water.
- Swallow while tucking your chin down towards your chest.
- Take another sip of water immediately. This will soothe the voice box and help thin out the mucous that builds up in your throat.
- Make a habit of sipping some water every 15 minutes or so to keep your throat moist.
Other strategies to try:
- Try two strong sniffs in quick succession and then blow out gently through pursed lips.
- Try a strong sniff followed immediately by blowing out through pursed lips. Swallow hard several times.
- Inhale through a straw and exhale through pursed lips (eg gentle blowing out through mouth) or make the sound “sssss”.
- As the throat feels calmer, take a sip of water or cordial but only if you are confident it will not trigger the cough again.
- Slow panting with tongue out.
- Sipping very cold water before a cough starts can sometimes prevent it.
Remember you can always seek advice from your GP if you have concerns regarding your chronic cough.
Useful links: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/
Physio treatments
Please click here to view our patient information section for our leaflets
Rehabilitation and classes - useful information
Exercise is beneficial for people with long term conditions or acute conditions which require a period of rehabilitation. Exercise will strengthen your muscles and lungs, aiding your day to day activities.
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation information British Heart Foundation
- Group classes Please contact your therapist for further information regarding referral to pulmonary rehab.
- Exercise Groups for long term health conditions My life my care
- Young at Heart Over 50’s Swim Everyone active
- Find your own exercise group British Heart Foundation
- Singing Groups are also available for chronic pulmonary conditions, access to these can be found on the above link.
Other Information
Local NHS falls clinics:
Lewis Manning Better Breathing Clinic
