The Lung Defence Clinic looks after more than 1,800 patients with difficult lung infections. The case mix includes patients with bronchiectasis associated with primary and secondary immunodeficiency syndromes, non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, aspergillus-related lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, serious childhood infection, chronic aspiration and primary ciliary dyskinesia.
The multidisciplinary team includes six respiratory consultants, one consultant immunologist, three lung defence and immunology specialist nurses, home IV nurses, research nurses, specialist respiratory physiotherapists, specialist ward nursing team, administrators and secretaries.
New patient referrals are seen in the Lung Defence Clinic for an initial review, before attending for specialist investigations including tests for immunodeficiency, cystic fibrosis and cilial dysfunction, a CT scan of the chest, lung function tests, allergy tests, specialist microbiological testing of sputum samples and a specialist chest physiotherapy review.
The Lung Defence Clinic and Immunology Service run specialist clinics for people with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, bronchiectasis, non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection, aspergillus-related lung disease, rheumatoid/autoimmune related bronchiectasis, primary ciliary dyskinesia and a specific clinic for young people with difficult lung infections.
The Lung Defence service has an inpatient ward including four single rooms (two with negative pressure facilities) for people with difficult lung infections requiring inpatient treatment, and day case beds for patients receiving immunoglobulin therapy. We run a successful intravenous antibiotic programme for patients to learn how to self-administer their treatment at home. We also have an established immunoglobulin home therapy training programme for patients requiring this treatment, to teach them how to self-administer this treatment at home.The Lung Defence service is unusual in having respiratory consultants and consultant clinical immunologists working within the same clinic to evaluate and treat people with difficult lung infection.