Man Credits Altnagelvin Hospital’s Respiratory Hub for “Second Chance of Life”

An individual has commended the respiratory hub at Altnagelvin Hospital, stating it provided him with “a second chance of life”. Jim Ross, a resident of Londonderry, was hospitalized in December 2022 after a fall led to the discovery of fluid in his lungs. The 75-year-old had previously been “convinced” he suffered from asbestosis, attributing it to his more than 30 years of employment in a power station. However, following nearly two years of diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions, he recently received news that has “given me back my life and the family’s life”. He stated, “It wasn’t until a few days ago that they said ‘we’re convinced you don’t have asbestosis or lung cancer’.” He added, “I could have cried. I was just overwhelmed. I really was. I still at times give myself a shake.” Jim characterized the care he received at Altnagelvin’s respiratory hub as “lifechanging” and is now anticipating Christmas and making plans for upcoming family holidays. Prior to last week, he had been hesitant to consider such future plans. He commented, “It hasn’t been easy,” but noted he coped successfully with substantial family support. Respiratory disease encompasses a broad range of conditions that impact individuals’ lungs, consequently impairing their capacity for proper breathing. This category includes ailments such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis, and lung cancer. A charity reports that respiratory disease ranks as “one of the top three killers in Northern Ireland,” with a diagnosis of a lung condition affecting one in five people during their lifetime. The hub located at Altnagelvin Hospital obtained permanent funding twelve months prior. Despite operating only two and a half days per week, the Western Trust indicated that it is preventing a substantial number of patients from being admitted to hospital and preserving a considerable quantity of beds. The Trust reported that 1,321 patients received care between April 2023 and April 2024, with approximately half (684) of these cases originating from the Emergency Department (ED). Of these, approximately one-sixth, totaling 223 patients, have circumvented hospital admission, thereby conserving over 300 hospital beds. The trust also stated that 53% of individuals admitted to the respiratory ward are older than 70. Dr. Paddy McShane, a specialist respiratory doctor, commented that the hub contributes to improving patient flow within the hospital. He described the hub as a “one-stop shop” for individuals presenting with suspected or confirmed respiratory illnesses. Patients can receive consultations from a senior respiratory doctor, undergo diagnostic tests, obtain immediate results, and commence suitable treatment without requiring a subsequent visit. Dr McShane stated, “We would see 120 to 130 patients every month in the hub that are patients who would have stayed in hospital for longer periods of time.” He added, “It’s freeing up turnover and getting more people out of A&E.” Dr McShane elaborated that a respiratory consultant conducts assessments of patients in the Emergency Department each morning. Some of these patients, admitted overnight, might not require hospital admission but cannot endure a six-week wait for an outpatient appointment. Nevertheless, patients can now be discharged with treatment and scheduled for a follow-up at the hub within several days to confirm their condition has not worsened. Dr McShane remarked, “We decrease the number of patients in A&E, but we’ve got the backup that we know they’re going to be seen within 24 to 48 hours in the respiratory hub.” He further noted that respiratory disease exerts year-round pressure on the health service, with particular intensity during the winter months. He explained, “We have a lot of winter viruses and bacteria that cause infections, and people with underlying respiratory disease are more susceptible to developing these infections.” He stated, “Our A&E departments are full now.” He continued, “There’s people that are very unwell, very breathless, very sick with infection, and it’s not ideal, but at the minute we have to work with what we’ve got.” Dr McShane also mentioned that the hub assists the hospital’s primary respiratory ward by enabling consultants to discharge patients sooner, thereby making beds available. He elaborated, “Needing to be in hospital is one thing but staying in hospital for a prolonged period of time, particularly over the winter, in wards that everybody’s got a different bug [is another].” He added, “It’s protective to try to get our patients home, and we know that they do much better at home, and they want to be at home.” Dr McShane affirmed that the hub is “definitely working” and that the team has garnered “very positive feedback,” though they aspire to see the service expanded. He remarked, “There’s a need for it at the weekend too, not just a Monday to Friday, but like all of the health service everyone’s looking for more money, and every specialty could do with a lot more.” He concluded, “But we also understand that the public purse isn’t overflowing.” The Department of Health indicated that efforts are underway to formulate a regional lung health plan. However, it noted that “while the minister will continue to make the case for greater resources for health, the absence of adequate funding will continue to impact the pace of implementation”.