Respiratory Physiologist, Staff Grade, University Hospital

Details of the Service

Cork University Hospital (CUH) is the largest acute hospital in the country. The hospital is a primary teaching hospital with close alliances to University College Cork (UCC), nursing, medical and allied health professional training. The hospital also plays a central role in the management of co-located services on-site.

CUH is the largest university teaching hospital in Ireland and the only Level 1 Trauma Centre in the country – an accreditation given with the presence of 40 different medical and surgical specialities delivered by the hospital – including Neurosciences, Cardiac Services, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Renal, Internal Medicine, Vascular, Ophthalmology, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Maxillary-Facial, Paediatrics, Critical Care, Cancer Services, and Emergency Medicine.

CUH is the tertiary referral Centre for the HSE Southern area, and the supra-regional area of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. CUH therefore acts as a regional Centre for secondary and tertiary care for the catchment population of 550,000 served by the HSE Southern area and a supra-regional Centre for a total population of 1.1 million.

CUH is a recommended Major Trauma Centre for the Republic of Ireland due to the wide range of specialties delivered by the hospital – including Neurosciences, Cardiac Services, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Renal, Internal Medicine, Vascular, Ophthalmology, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Maxillary-Facial, Paediatrics, Intensive Care, Oncology, Haematology, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and Emergency Medicine.

The Respiratory Medicine Department currently has 9 Respiratory Consultants with specialist clinics for Lung Cancer, Asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Interstitial Lung Disease, Pulmonary Hypertension and non-CF Bronchietasis. The Respiratory Medicine Department will be incorporating a new satellite service of the Cork City South which might include travel out to this satellite department.

Purpose of the Post

function and procedures under the direction of the Senior/Chief Respiratory Physiologist.

The purpose of this post is to be responsible for providing a high quality, patient-focused PFT service for the Post-acute COVID-19 Clinic referred patients in CUH, under the clinical and governance framework of the Respiratory Laboratory Department.

This is a protected post to permit the post holder to support the Respiratory Service of CUH on the extra work-load created by COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular, to support the post-acute COVID-19 clinics

· To further enhance Service Provision to those living with symptoms of COVID, the HSE has developed a new national model of care. This Model of Care builds on Service Provision currently provided with a view to strengthening the Health Service response to addressing the needs of these patients across a number of care settings to include Acute.

· A National Oversight Group has been established to oversee and drive the implementation of this plan. Timely access to specialist services and specialist opinion for patients with respiratory disease.

· Early intervention pathways/ rapid access clinics for acute, chronic or newly presenting respiratory conditions.

· Development of pathways for the management of chronic conditions.

· Facilitating access and the evaluation and reporting of pulmonary function tests.

· The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team delivering coordinated evidence-based care for patients with COVID-19 and with some additional local commitment to the respiratory integrated care programme.

For further information about the role contact

Dr Michael Henry, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Cork University Hospital

Email: michael.henry@hse.ie.

Telephone: 021 49221311