In this section
Helping people with COPD stay safe and well at home.
We are a specialist Community Respiratory Team based at Wythenshawe Hospital, working across South Manchester to support people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other long-term lung conditions. Our aim is to treat people at home where it’s safe to do so, reduce distress and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
Who we are
A multi-disciplinary team of specialist respiratory nurses and physiotherapists. We work alongside GPs, practice nurses and hospital respiratory consultants to provide expert assessment, treatment and education in the community.
What we do (services we provide)
- Urgent home visits for people who are acutely unwell with a COPD exacerbation. We assess patients in their own home and arrange the next steps of care.
- Respiratory assessment — clinical examination, oxygen assessment, review of inhaler technique and symptom monitoring.
- Sample collection — we can take blood tests and sputum samples if clinically required to help identify infection and guide treatment.
- Arrange and deliver treatment for chest exacerbations, including prescribing/recommending antibiotics or steroids in line with GP/hospital care plans and liaising with the patient’s healthcare team.
- Short-term nebuliser support — we can provide short-term nebuliser therapy to patients who need it during an acute episode.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation & self-management support — exercise and education to help people manage breathlessness and improve activity levels (we run local pulmonary rehab programmes).
Our approach
We focus on providing timely, expert care in the place patients prefer — their own homes — so people can recover safely without going to hospital whenever possible.
We work closely with GPs and other community services to make sure each patient has a clear plan for managing future exacerbations (action plans and follow-up).
When we are available
We operate 7 days a week (including bank holidays), 8:00 — 18:00 to provide community assessment and home visits. (If outside these hours and you are seriously unwell, call 999.)
Who can access the service
People with COPD registered with a GP in the South Manchester area, and patients recently discharged from hospital who need community respiratory follow-up. We accept referrals from GPs, hospital teams and other community services.
How to get in touch
Working hours: 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week
Call 07884753800 or call via hospital switchboard on 0161 998 7070
Email: mft.asktheteam.crt@nhs.net
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you give me a nebuliser at home?
We can provide short-term nebuliser therapy when clinically indicated and as part of managing an acute exacerbation.
Will you take samples?
Yes — we can take sputum samples and blood tests if needed to identify infection or monitor health.
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
A supported course of exercise and education designed to reduce breathlessness and improve fitness and confidence to manage COPD. We run local programmes and refer eligible patients.
What our patients say
Patient Testimonials
“Competent. Caring. Professional.”
Patient Testimonials
“I rely on that team heavily. Always caring and helpful. Would struggle at times if I was unable to ask about my health.“
Patient Testimonials
“They explained everything easily.“