Cardio-Respiratory is about your heart and lungs.
This department tests patients to find out more about their heart and lung problems.
This page gives you information about:
The Cardio-Respiratory Department performs specialist heart and lung tests for patients across the North West and beyond.
The results we provide give concise and targeted information which doctors and other health practitioners can then utilise to manage a patient's condition.
The department is split between two sites, the primary department situated at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and a smaller department at Broadgreen Hospital within the Alexandra Wing.
We provide the following tests and services:
Cardiac testing: 12-lead ECG, Ambulatory Monitoring (e.g. 24hr ECG monitor / BP monitor), Exercise Testing, Echocardiography (including transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) and stress echocardiography), Cardiac Catheterisation (also known as coronary angiography), Pacemaker and Loop Recorder Device Follow Up and Implantation, Tilt Table Testing, Autonomic Function Testing and Carotid Sinus Massage.
Respiratory testing: Spirometry, Pulmonary Function Testing, End Tidal CO2, Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing, 6 minute walk testing, Bronchial and Saline Challenge testing, Muscle Strength testing and skin prick (allergy) testing.
Patient information leaflets for the majority of our tests can be downloaded from this page.
Patients are referred from numerous services including GPs, Cardiology, Respiratory, Pre-Operative Services and any other area of the Trust who may have concerns regarding a person's cardiac or respiratory welfare. We will also care for patients from other Trusts such as Liverpool Women's Hospital to support other local .
When you attend our department, you will be greeted by our reception staff who will book you in which will inform the relevant area of the department that you have arrived. The member of staff who will take care of you during the test will then call you into the specific room for your test. They will introduce themselves and will explain what the test entails and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Once your test is complete, in most cases you will be free to leave the department to either go home or to the next area you have been advised to go to.
Your results will be stored digitally and a paper copy will be sent to the doctor who has asked for the test. Sometimes doctors will note on your test referral that you should take the results back to them straight after your test.
Every member of staff undergoes extensive and thorough training and quality assurance testing to ensure they are fully qualified to perform each test in their specific area. We constantly strive to keep our knowledge and skills up to date in order to provide world class patient care.
Both male and female staff are employed across both of our sites. If you have any questions or concerns regarding who may perform your test, please speak to our staff upon arrival who will be happy to offer advice or alternative arrangements for you.
The current department structure includes 29 Clinical Physiologists, 6 Assistant practitioners, 8 Assistant technical Officers, a Health Care Assistant and 9 Clerical staff.
The Cardio Respiratory Team is closely supported across both disciplines by a strong team of consultants with extensive experience in their discipline. These including:
Cardiology Consultants
Respiratory Consultants
In our Royal Liverpool Hospital Site, the waiting area is a clean and airy space situated close to most test rooms a short distance from the main entrance. There is a cold water fountain within the waiting area along with male, female and disabled toilets which are situated within the department.
There is a television screen that will advise on waiting times as well as national news and other Trust information. Patient information leaflets are available upon request.
The Broadgreen Hospital waiting area is situated in the corridor adjacent to the department. Toilets are situated in the outpatient waiting area approximately 50 yards away where a water fountain is also available.
There is a WRVS cafeteria/shop near to each department on both sites that visitors can use.
Cardio-Respiratory Department
The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital Trust,
Prescot Street,
Liverpool, L7 8XP
Tel - 0151 706 2710
Fax - 0151 706 5855
Loop hearing services available at reception.
Cardio-Respiratory Department - Royal Liverpool Hospital Site, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP
On entering the hospital from the main entrance on Prescot Street, walk to the far end of the main atrium and take the corridor to the right (near the big red post box). You will pass the Haematology clinic to your right side before coming out near the WRVS cafeteria. Turn right here and you will see the signage for the department which is situated alongside G clinic and opposite the vascular clinic. Our reception desk is situated ahead of you on the left as you enter the department.
Cardio-Respiratory Department - Broadgreen Hospital Site, Alexandra Wing
, Thomas Drive, Liverpool, L14 3LB
On entering the main Broadgreen Hospital site either by car or on foot, the Alexandra Wing can be accessed by taking your 1st left at the 2nd roundabout take the 1st right after this and the Alexandra Wing is situated on your right. A courtesy bus is available across the entire site to support those with mobility issues.
On entering the Alexandra Wing, walk straight down the corridor and take the last left turn. Our department is then situated just on the left and there is a window to check in.
The department is already accredited by the British Society of Echocardiography, and we are hoping to go one step further by becoming accredited in the Improving Quality in Physiological Services program. It is a professionally-led program with the aim of improving service quality, care and safety for patients undergoing physiological diagnostics and treatment. The process of self assessment, improvement and accreditation offers the benefits of sharing best practice and the opportunity to enhance efficiency, and provide evidence for local leverage and brings national recognition to the service with a badge of quality.
We hope to become accredited before moving to the New Royal Hospital site. Accreditation will continue once our move has been completed.