17 November 2009
A new department with the latest technology for diagnosing and assessing lung disease has been officially opened.
Lung health is a dedicated outpatient facility within the University Hospital of North Tees providing a one stop shop for people with respiratory disease.
Consultant physician Dr Richard Harrison, who heads up lung health, said: “The combination of examination rooms, a lung function laboratory and dedicated digital chest x-ray in one place is a much improved service for patients.
“People with breathing problems find walking from one department to another for tests and x-rays very difficult. Having all of our diagnostic and consulting rooms together is better for patients. Very importantly this service also means we can offer GPs and other health professionals expert opinion to prevent admissions to hospital and support patients at home, which is where they would prefer to be.
“We were delighted to welcome NHS North East clinical lead on Our Vision Our Future, Professor John Burn to open the new facility. He met patients, patient representatives and staff and saw for himself how we the service is supporting the aims of Our vision our future - the long term strategic plan to improve health in the North East – which aims to provide as much care as possible in or closer to people’s homes.”