Respiratory and Sleep Thoracic Medicine

Respiratory and Sleep Thoracic Medicine manage a range of general and complex disorders including cystic fibrosis and lung disease. Services are offered at the RAH, TQEH and rural and remote areas of SA/NT. 

We are a multi-disciplinary inpatient, ambulatory and outreach respiratory and sleep service. 

Services are provided at the RAH, TQEH and remote areas of SA/NT. 

Rural outpatient clinics

Services are also provided to patients referred from rural and remote areas in SA/NT. Off-site clinics are located in:

• Whyalla
• Port Augusta
• Alice Springs
• Coober Pedy
• Riverland (Berri and Barmera)
• Ceduna
• Port Lincoln

Indigenous clinics

• Pika Wiya
• Nunyara
• APY Lands
• Yalata
• Oak Valley
• Tjuntjuntjara

RAH on site bulk bill consultants

• Professor Paul Reynolds
• Dr Arash Badiei
• Dr Sally Chapman
• Dr Dien Dang
• Professor Mark Holmes
• A/Prof Chien-Li Holmes-Liew
• Dr Emily Hopkins
• A/Prof Hubertus Jersmann
• Dr Judith Morton
• A/Prof Phan Nguyen
• Dr Richard Stapledon (TB only – no charge)
• Dr Vanessa Tee
• Dr Michelle Wong
• Dr Aeneas Yeo

TQEH on site bulk bill consultants

• Dr Jonathan Polasek
• A/Prof Andrew Fon
• Dr Thomas Altree
• Dr Annie Walker
• Dr Zafar Usmani
• Dr Anil Roy

We accept GP and specialist referrals to this service. Emergency cases can present to the Emergency Department at any time.

Thoracic Medicine priorities are based on clinical urgency

Immediate priority

Respiratory emergencies with threat to major organs.

Acute respiratory disease where admission is required.

Direct to an Emergency Department.

Examples of immediate priority

• Acute or rapidly progressive shortness of breath or respiratory failure
• Major haemoptysis
• Acute asthma
• Acute pneumothorax
• New lung opacity in a clinically unstable patient
• Suspected or proven tuberculosis

Referral process for immediate priority

If life-threatening, the patient should be sent to the nearest emergency department.

Otherwise, must be discussed with the thoracic registrar or the on call medical registrar if after hours, via switchboard on (08) 7074 0000 (RAH) or via (08) 8222 6000 (TQEH). Then fax a referral marked URGENT to (08) 7074 6248 (RAH) or (08) 8222 7244 (TQEH) or send with the patient if urgent assessment arranged.

RAH Cystic Fibrosis Service - Telephone (08) 7117 2900 between 8.00 am to 5.00 pm or the thoracic registrar/on call medical registrar if after hours, via RAH switchboard on (08) 7074 0000.

Urgent priority

Condition has the potential to require more complex or emergency care if assessment is delayed.

Condition has the potential to have significant impact on quality of life if care is delayed.

Examples of urgent priority

• New lung mass in a clinically stable patient
• Significant or progressive dyspnoea
• Severe sleepiness/ fatigue or suspected sleep related disorder impacting on patient or community safety
• Unstable asthma
• Other urgent issues
• For Cystic Fibrosis (CF) (RAH only): potential new diagnosis

Referral process for urgent priority

Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00 pm: Fax referral marked URGENT to (08) 7074 6248 (RAH) or (08) 8222 7244 (TQEH).

After hours: Thoracic registrar or medical registrar on call via switchboard (08) 7074 0000 (RAH) or (08) 8222 6000 (TQEH).

For Cystic Fibrosis (CF): 8.00 am to 5.00 pm: contact Cystic Fibrosis Service on (08) 7117 2900 to make an urgent appointment.

After hours: call CF registrar or consultant on call via RAH switchboard on (08) 7074 0000

Semi urgent priority

Requires specialist management but unlikely to deteriorate rapidly.

Examples of semi-urgent priority

• Obstructive airways disease – (asthma/ COPD with ongoing symptoms)
• New interstitial lung disease with ongoing symptoms
• Suspected sleep disorder in a high-risk patient

Referral process for semi-urgent priority

Fax referral to the RAH on (08) 7074 6248 or TQEH on (08) 8222 7244.

Early assessment may be facilitated by addressing the referral to a respiratory or sleep consultant by name as this provides additional assessment opportunities.

Intermediate priority

Condition is unlikely to deteriorate quickly.

Condition is unlikely to require more complex care if assessment is delayed.

Examples of intermediate priority

• Patients with stable respiratory conditions and able to function in the community
• Suspected sleep disorder not impacting on patient, public safety or cardiovascular risk

Referral process for intermediate priority

Fax referral to the RAH on (08) 7074 6248 or TQEH on (08) 8222 7244.

Non-urgent priority

Low priority

Examples of non-urgent priority

• Long standing cough with normal radiology
• Snoring, no sleepiness, no heavy machinery/ heavy vehicle use or driving difficulty, no relevant co-morbidities
• Respiratory or sleep conditions already under the care of other physicians, for which there is no active issue.

For CF: Non urgent issues

Referral process for non-urgent priority

Fax referral to the RAH on (08) 7074 6248 or TQEH on (08) 8222 7244.

Low priority for appointment

Patient may not be seen for a considerable period. Alternative specialist options may be obtained by phoning (08) 7117 2900 (RAH).

For CF: Phone (08) 7117 2900 between 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.