Dudley Respiratory Assessment Service (DRAS)

Patient Information Leaflet

Introduction

We are a team of healthcare professionals including nurses, physiotherapists, and doctors, specially trained to care for people with respiratory illness.

We will provide the necessary treatment and support to enable you to be cared for in your own home. This may include the loan of medical equipment, for example a nebuliser. A specialist nurse or physiotherapist will visit you or make telephone contact with you at home until your condition is stable.

The DRAS team will communicate closely with your respiratory consultant, GP and others involved in your care.

If you are worried about your chest while you are under our care, or you have any problems or queries, please contact the following numbers:

Contact numbers

Monday to Sunday, 8am – 6.30pm: 01384 244383.

This is also a 24-hour answerphone.

If you feel that you are unable to wait until our service is open, please call 111 for further advice or, in the event of a medical emergency, please call 999.

Please let the DRAS team know, or ask a relative to let us know, on the above telephone number if you are readmitted to hospital.

Useful numbers

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

This is an exercise and education class for patients with chronic respiratory conditions. You can be referred by your GP or respiratory nurse. For more information, contact 01384 323773.

Local services

Citizens Advice England

For free, independent and confidential advice, call 0800 1448848

Additional information

Asthma & Lung UK

03000 030 555

https://www.blf.org.uk/

If you were satisfied with our service, you may want to register your comments or views by visiting:  Tell us what you think! – The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

If you have any concerns or complaints, please speak to the senior respiratory nurse by calling the respiratory helpline on 01384 244383. This is usually the quickest way to resolve any problems.

Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) at dgft.pals@nhs.net or by calling 0800 073 0510. PALS can support patients, relatives or carers when they have concerns or queries.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please speak to one of our nurses. If you need help when you return home, please contact your GP.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet, please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Andrea Biesty. Date reviewed: October 2025. Next review date: July 2028. Version: 4. DGH reference: DGH/PIL/02019