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Respiratory referral criteria

Conditions treated

  • children established or considered for long term ventilation
  • sleep-related respiratory failure and apnoea
  • congenital lung abnormalities
  • severe and complex asthma (previous PICU or HDU, 2 or more courses of prednisolone per year)
  • rare lung diseases of infancy
  • bronchopulmonary dysplasia on oxygen
  • congenital anomaly of larynx, trachea and bronchus
  • suspected bronchiectasis in children

Procedures performed

  • fibreoptic bronchoscopy
  • pulmonary function testing in children > 3 years (diagnostics for asthma)
  • hypoxic challenge (fit to fly test) in children

Administrative requirements

To book transport or a translator if required and to indicate this in the referral letter.

To ensure that we have all of the patient’s up to date details, including:

  • address
  • contact numbers
  • NHS number
  • ethnic group

Exclusions

Please refer to the General Paediatrics department for the following:

  • patients with cystic fibrosis
  • chronic cough
  • chronic respiratory symptoms, such as:
  • wheeze
  • recurrent chestiness
  • recurrent pneumonia
  • asthma (of a severity less than NRAD/BTS/NICE criteria for referral to a specialist)
  • viral induced wheeze
  • recurrent URTI