When it comes to heart and lung disease, our physiotherapy services have a reputation for being the best in the country.

We offer a comprehensive service, covering outpatient, inpatient and community services for children and adults. 

We work with patients and carers in order to facilitate the best possible level of activity and lifestyle for people living with a heart or lung condition.

Our team

Our team are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. Every year the team presents new research at international conferences, with invitations to speak and present our work nationally and internationally. 

Physiotherapy at Royal Brompton Hospital

We treat patients with complex lung conditions such as:

We have specialist paediatric services for children who have undergone heart surgery, for children on long-term ventilation service and an integrated transition service for young CF patients.

We also offer rehabilitation for patients who have had a critical illness, cardiothoracic surgery, or those with complex congenital heart disease.

Our treatments

  • Airway clearance – to remove phlegm from the lungs
  • Breathing pattern re-education – to assist with breathlessness resulting from a dysfunctional breathing pattern
  • Exercise programmes – to promote fitness and lifestyle changes
  • Complex rehabilitation – to build strength and balance for patients who have been through prolonged periods of incapacity
  • Advice and adaptation of portable ventilators – for use in the hospital as well as in the community

Physiotherapy at Harefield Hospital

The physiotherapy department at Harefield Hospital has four specialist teams providing both inpatient and outpatient support.

  • Adult cardiothoracic surgery
  • Transplant
  • Cardiac rehabilitation
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation

Inpatient treatments

If you are undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, ventricular assist device (VAD) procedure or transplantation, our team can assist in your rehabilitation from intensive care, to the ward and on to discharge 

You will be individually assessed by one of our physiotherapists and given a treatment regime specifically tailored to you and your goals.

Find out more about our cardiac rehabilitation programme and our pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Outpatient treatments

The respiratory outpatient service for patients with lung disease includes:

  • airway clearance techniques
  • management of dysfunctional breathing patterns
  • assessment for home nebulisers
  • oxygen therapy assessment
  • exercises

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is an inherited genetic disorder of the structure and/or function of the cilia, which are the tiny microscopic moving structures lining the airways, ears and sinuses.&nbs

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a term used for a group of more than 100 separate disorders that commonly affect the tissue and space around the air sacs in the lung.

Bronchiectasis is a disease affecting the walls of the 'bronchi' – the tubes that carry air through the lungs. 

Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. There is no cure for asthma but in most sufferers, available treatments keep their symptoms under control. 

Our Trust is a leading centre in the care of children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Our paediatric CF clinic offers a team approach to all children and their families.

Contact us

Royal Brompton Hospital
Tel: 020 7351 8088 

Harefield Hospital
Tel: 01895 828 535 


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