New rapid access clinic for bronchiectasis patients

As part of the work of the Respiratory Infections Health Integration Team (RuBICoN HIT), the ‘hot’ clinic at North Bristol NHS Trust is being extended to provide a rapid access clinic for bronchiectasis patients.

The team at North Bristol NHS Trust have funding to run a study assessing the impact of this intervention for 40 patients over a one year period. In place of regular outpatient appointments with Dr David Smith, a group of 40 patients with bronchiectasis will have access to a rapid access clinic run by Dr Oliver Bintcliffe (a clinical research fellow), Dr David Smith or Dr Nick Maskell.

They have now received ethical approval for the study and are awaiting Research & Development approval before inviting patients to participate.

Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection.

Dr Nick Maskell, secondary care lead for RuBICoN HIT and Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, North Bristol Trust and Academic Reader, University of Bristol, said: “We hope this clinic will provide a more reactive way of treating this patient group, keeping them out of hospital and reducing the need for routine out-patient appointments.”