Respiratory Medicine at Canberra Hospital

We care for and treat people with problems and injuries relating to the lungs and breathing.

About this service

Our Respiratory service is part of a larger service that includes Sleep Medicine and the Respiratory and Sleep diagnostic Laboratories.

We also offer Bronchoscopy and Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS). This is a procedure we to diagnose different kinds of lung problems.

Our areas of focus:

• General Respiratory
• General Sleep
• Sleep Apnea treatment
• Respiratory Function Testing
• Sleep Laboratory Testing
• Tuberculosis Service
• Severe Asthma Service
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Service
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) Service
• Bronchoscopy and Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)
• Lung Cancer Assessment Service
• Developing Interstitial Lung Disease service
• Cross specialty services (including Infectious Diseases, Rheumatology, Obesity Management Service).

Respiratory Medicine is also offered through North Canberra Hospital specialist outpatient clinics.

Who we care for

We offer these services for free if you have a Medicare Card or an Asylum Seeker Card.

People who are not eligible will have to pay for services.

How to access this service

Your GP or medical practitioner will organise for you to access this service.

One of our doctors will review and triage your referral once we receive it.

We will write to both you and your referring doctor to let you know we have received your referral.

Some conditions are more urgent than others, so for this reason, you may be placed on a waiting list.

One of our team members will get in touch with you to book your initial appointment based on your triage category and place in the queue.

We’ll send you a letter with your appointment details, once it is booked. We’ll also send you a reminder two weeks before your appointment. If you have this set up, you will receive an SMS reminder three days before your appointment.

What to expect

Severe Asthma

We offer a monthly clinic to provide comprehensive care for you if you have poorly controlled asthma despite treatment.

This care may involve use of injectable medications that aim to reduce inflammation.

One of our doctors will need to assess you before you can access this service.

Tuberculosis (TB)

We offer a regular TB screening and treatment service. TB can be a highly infectious bacterial infection but is not common in developed countries. You may need to have TB screening due to your employment or because you have recently immigrated.

If you are not eligible for Medicare or another scheme, you will have to pay for TB screening and any treatment.

All TB appointments are managed by the Central Health Intake.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

CF is a chronic condition which affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and digestive fluids. This severely damages the lungs and breathing.

We offer a regular Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic for people living with CF.

One of our doctors will need to assess you before you can access this service.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

We offer a regular clinic for people living with COPD – a chronic condition which affects airflow into and out of the lungs. One of our doctors will need to assess you before you can access this service.

Bronchoscopy and Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)

• Bronchoscopy is a painless and safe procedure involving a thin flexible tube that is passed through your nose or mouth and into your lungs. You will be sedated during this procedure.
• The main reason you might need a bronchoscopy is to look for an infection or to make other diagnoses, including cancer.
• One of our nurses will contact you before your appointment to let you know how to prepare for the procedure. This may include fasting and changes to your medication.
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is more complex than a bronchoscopy. It is performed similarly but uses ultrasound to locate a specific area that may require biopsy.

Both procedures are day procedures. You will need someone to drive you home after the procedure due to the sedation effects.

Lung Cancer Assessment Service

Your treating doctor may refer you to our service if they suspect you may have lung cancer.

If you are referred to us with suspected lung cancer, we will see you urgently. After you’ve seen one of our Respiratory consultants, you’ll be referred for testing and/or treatment including Radiology (imaging) and Oncology (cancer services) depending on your needs.

What to bring to your appointment

• Medicare card
• Any letters or correspondence from your GP
• Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
• Private health insurance card (if applicable/if you want to use it)
• List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
• Reading glasses (if required)

Where we’re located

Respiratory and Sleep Medicine services are in several locations at Canberra Hospital:

• Respiratory Function Laboratory, Building 1, Level 2 (ground floor)
• Tuberculosis (TB) Service, Building 1, Level 2 (ground floor)
• Bronchoscopy Service in the Gastroenterology Suite, Building 1, Level 2 (ground floor)
• Consultant Clinics, Building 1, Level 2 (ground floor) and Building 1, Level 8
• Sleep Laboratory, Building 1, Level 6
• Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Service, Building 1, Level 8
• Asthma Services, Building 1, Level 8
• Inpatient ward 6A, Building 1, Level 6

We have directions to Canberra Hospital.

Resources

The National Asthma Council Australia

For more information on CF, you can visit the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) website.

The Lung Foundation - living with a lung disease overview

Cancer Council Australia - lung cancer

Additional Information

Our Staff

• Dr John Nicholls (Unit Director)
• Dr Carol Huang (Sleep Service lead)
• Prof Mark Hurwitz
• Dr Peter Jones
• Dr Stuart Schembri
• Dr Michael Ssentamu
• Dr Rosianna Wee