Respiratory and sleep disorders

At the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Disorders, we care for people with conditions that affect breathing, the lungs and sleep. We diagnose and treat a wide range of respiratory (lung-related) illnesses and sleep disorders, helping people breathe better and sleep more soundly. 

We provide a comprehensive range of diagnostic services, including:

• sleep studies
• lung function tests
• cardiopulmonary exercise assessments
• bronchoscopy / EBUS procedures.

We are a bulk-billing service and so there will be no out-of-pocket expenses for you if you are eligible for Medicare.

We care for both inpatients (people staying in hospital) and outpatients (people who attend clinics and go home the same day).

Inpatient care

• We care for around 1,400 hospital patients each year.
• We manage a 5-bed non-invasive ventilation unit in Ward 2D at Footscray Hospital. This unit helps people with severe breathing difficulties who need support but not full intensive care.

Outpatient care

We support around 2,500 patients through our general Respiratory Clinic every year, as well as a range of specialist clinics, including:

• Sleep Disorders Clinic – for sleep apnoea and other sleep-related problems
• Asthma Clinic
• Lung Oncology Clinic – for patients with lung cancer
• Rapid Respiratory Assessment Clinic – for urgent breathing problems
• Migrant Screening Clinic – we screen about 2,600 overseas students and new migrants each year who have abnormal chest x-rays (a service funded by the Victorian Government).

Our department is involved in medical education and research, helping train the next generation of healthcare professionals and improve care through scientific study.

We provide training for:

• medical students
• doctors-in-training (registrars and residents)
• nurses
• allied health staff.

We are proudly affiliated with:

• The University of Melbourne’s Western Clinical School
• The University of Notre Dame Australia.

Clinical trials

Our department is actively involved in several clinical research trials, both for new medications and other types of treatment. 

These trials help us test new ways to manage and improve care for people with lung and breathing conditions. Clinical trials are safe, carefully supervised and follow strict ethical guidelines.

Interested in taking part?

You may be able to take part in one of our trials if you have one of the conditions listed below. Even if there isn’t a suitable trial right now, we are happy to keep your contact details for future opportunities.

We are currently looking for people who have been formally diagnosed (by a GP or respiratory specialist) with one of the following:

• asthma – you must be either a non-smoker or ex-smoker, and taking regular inhaler medication
• bronchiectasis
• emphysema or chronic bronchitis or COPD – you're either a non-smoker or ex-smoker, taking daily puffers and have had chest infections in the past year
• interstitial lung disease.

Contact information

Sue Casanelia

Respiratory Research Nurse Coordinator

Footscray Hospital

Phone: (03) 8345 6804

Email: resp.research@wh.org.au

• You’ll need your medical practitioner to send through a referral to be triaged by our team.
• All referrals should be addressed to the Head of Unit, Dr Anne Marie Southcott. Health professionals and GPs can find out more information on referring patients via our referral guidelines.
• Please ensure that all recent pathology test results and relevant investigations are attached to the referral.

Please note: The following conditions are not managed through Western Health, and patients should be referred to a tertiary hospital:

• suspected active tuberculosis (TB)
• massive haemoptysis (coughing up large amounts of blood)
• unilateral pleural effusion (fluid on one side of the chest)
• suspected lung cancer

Contact

For bookings and enquiries, please contact our friendly staff.
Phone: (03) 8345 6842 (Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm)