Respiratory Physiology and Sleep

The Respiratory and Sleep Sciences Department provides diagnostic and therapeutic investigations for patients with a variety of conditions.  

We provide a full range of routine and urgent specialist investigations which include some of the following:

• Lung Function Testing (LFT) - to assess how well your lungs are working
• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) - to measure the response of your lungs, heart and muscles during exercise
• Six-Minute Walk Testing (6MWT) - to assess the distance you are able to walk over a six-minute period, and how your heart rate and oxygen levels respond
• Airway Challenge Testing - to test how sensitive your airways are, which is often a feature of asthma
• Oxygen Assessments – to assess if you are suitable for supplemental oxygen when at rest or when moving around
• Oxygen Flight Assessment – to assess if you require supplemental oxygen when going on a aeroplane
• Sleep Studies – to investigate how you breathe during your sleep
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy – to treat sleep breathing problems
• Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV) – to treat respiratory failure

If you have been referred for lung function testing (LFT), please follow the instructions below on the day of your appointment:

• Please bring a list of your current medications (including any inhalers)
• Please try to refrain from taking any inhalers on the day of your test
• Refrain from smoking and consumption of alcohol on the day of the test
• Refrain from eating a heavy meal prior to testing
• Refrain from doing any form of heavy exercise before your test
• Wear comfortable clothes which are loose fitting

If you have been referred for airway challenge testing, please stop taking the following medication for the time stated before your challenge:

If you require an interpreter, please contact the department so we can provide one.

If you are travelling to the hospital by an ambulance and you have been given an appointment after 5pm, please contact the department for us to rearrange this to a morning appointment.

If you are unable to attend or are unwell on the date of the test (e.g. taken antibiotics for a chest infection within the last 6 weeks) please telephone our department on 02476 966 734 as soon as possible, so that an alternative appointment may be made for you. Please have your hospital number or NHS number to hand which is printed at the top of your letter.

After you have completed your test, your results will be uploaded to our patient record system at the hospital by Healthcare Scientist. Unfortunately, the results will not be discussed with you during your appointment. Your test results will be discussed with you when you visit the hospital for your follow up appointment with the medical team. 

If you do not attend this appointment, it will be assumed you no longer require these tests, and your request will be returned to your consultant.

A new appointment will not be made without a new referral from your consultant.

The department is located in the main outpatient’s department next to clinic 3. Respiratory and Sleep investigations are also performed in the Respiratory and Sleep Sciences Department at the Hospital of St. Cross in Rugby. Both departments are fully signposted.

University Hospital and Hospital of St. Cross: 02476 966734

Contactable between: 8:30am-4:30pm

Please visit the Did we get it Right? page.

For patient information leaflets click here.

• The Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP)
• The British Lung Foundation (BLF)
• The British Thoracic Society (BTS)
• Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
• The European Respiratory Society (ERS)
• Midlands Thoracic Society (MTS)
• The Sleep Apnoea Society
• Sleep Apnoea Trust UK