Risk minimisation in spirometry re-start - Task and Finish group document

28 April 2021

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Restoration of spirometry is a key step in managing respiratory disease, ensuring the correct diagnosis and therapeutic / referral interventions. Regrettably due to COVID provision of spirometry in primary / community settings has greatly reduced or ceased. This needs to be addressed with a matter of urgency to limit patient harm, whilst taking opportunities learnt from COVID to deliver better care.

Two documents have been produced, one from the Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) and one from the Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) to aid restoration of spirometry services by mitigating risk to both staff and patients. These were developed from a Task and Finish group established by the NHS England and NHS Improvement Clinical Policy Unit and have been reviewed by:

• Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists
• Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology
• British Lung Foundation / Asthma UK Partnership
• British Thoracic Society
• Royal College of Nursing
• Primary Care Respiratory Society

Please click below to access the documents.

Click here to view the risk minimisation in spirometry re-start documents

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