New lung-function equipment installed at Bronllys Hospital

Patients in the south of the county now have access to full lung function testing  locally thanks to the installation of a new piece of  testing equipment.

The £42,000 Body Plethysmograph (or Bodybox) has been installed at Powys Teaching Health Board’s Bronllys Hospital and will reduce the amount of patient travel as well as shorten waiting times.

Kimberley Lewis, Specialised Respiratory Physiologist, explained: “Typically, a patient would have previously gone to see their GP, then a consultant - who was usually over the border -  and then be referred to a hospital in England for the lung function tests”.

Now, consultants involved in the care of any PTHB patient can now refer patients directly for lung function testing in their home healthboard.

It is hoped that in the future, a change in the pathway will enable GPs to  refer patients directly to testing  so the tests here in Bronllys are ready for the consultant when they see the patient in clinic.

“So as the first two stages can be done in-county, this will cut down on the amount of travel a patient needs to do and, as we have added capacity to the system, we can shorten the time before a patient can be given a consultant appointment,” she added.

The Bodybox can test for a range of lung functions including the resistance or narrowing within the airways and the total amount of air inside the lungs. This includes the amount of air that a patient can breathe in and out, and the amount left inside the lungs when the patient has blown everything out. These are essential tests for the treatment of conditions such as asthma, bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. They are also requested by other specialities, including cardiology and rheumatology, to check that medications are not affecting the lungs.

Using the equipment is a painless procedure, with the patient sitting within the unit with a ‘peg’ to cover the nose while they breathe into the unit in a variety of ways as guided by the physiologist.

Kimberley added: “Patients needn’t worry about being enclosed within the box either as we can leave the door open if they would prefer in most cases. The physiologist who performs the test will always support, help and guide any patient that we see to achieve the best technically acceptable results for them whilst making the procedure as pleasant as possible.”

The service is also now working on plans to install a second unit in the north of the county.

You can find out more about the services offered by Respiratory and Sleep Physiology Service at https://pthb.nhs.wales/services/adult-and-older-peoples-community-services/community-respiratory-services/

Photo: Kimberley Lewis, Specialised Respiratory Physiologist (front) is pictured operating the Bodybox while her colleague Rhodri Curtis, Clinical Respiratory Physiologist, plays the role of patient.