Midlothian Community Respiratory Team

Midlothian Community Respiratory Team (MCRT) is a community team based at Bonnyrigg Health Centre, consisting primarily of Physiotherapists and Support Staff, a Psychologist and Dietitian. MCRT is part of the wider Midlothian Intermediate Care Team.

MCRT can assist with acute management, longer term self-management, chest clearance, optimising medical management, inhaler reviews, as well as input with future care planning, and symptom control in the palliative phase where appropriate.

The team liaise closely with Respiratory Consultants via MDT meetings at RIE, can refer for PFTs and regularly link-in with GPs and practice nurses. Our Band 7 Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners have admission rights to RIE/WGH via the Flow Hub and are non-medical prescribers (or working towards this qualification) who can prescribe acute and stand-by treatments for acute exacerbations and other respiratory medications.

MCRT can make onward referrals to other services such as pulmonary rehab, district nurses, smoking cessation, H@H, Marie Curie Day Services, Red Cross, and Vocal.

Referral Guidelines
Resources and Links

GP referral pathway (COPD only at present)

Patients with acute exacerbations of COPD who are at home in the community, for management of exacerbations. The team aims to avoid hospital admissions where possible, supporting the patient with acute treatment for their exacerbation.

Hospital referral pathways

Facilitated discharge pathway for COPD patients for earlier home discharge.
MCRT+ facilitated discharge pathway for patients with other respiratory conditions (such as bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease) to facilitate earlier home discharges and prevent readmission. Input is short term with no self-referral pathway back in.
COVID oxygen weaning facilitated discharge pathway. We are able to see COVID patients post discharge for a short period of time, assessing their dependency on oxygen and organising onward referral if required.

Who can refer:

GPs can refer patients diagnosed with COPD who are frequent exacerbators and at risk of admission, living in Midlothian. These can be urgent referrals for acute exacerbating patients or routine for referrals where patients will be put onto waiting list for self-management support.
Other community staff may also refer patients for the COPD community pathway.
COPD patients can self-refer back into the team, after initial contact, with future exacerbations (not available for MCRT+ patients).
Consultants / RNS / ANPs / AHP secondary care colleagues can refer for facilitated discharge or routine self-management (referrals from respiratory clinics).
SAS can refer directly for admission prevention for COPD patients.

How to refer:

MCRT working hours are Monday-Friday 08:30-16:00. Please try to refer urgent referrals prior to 12 noon.

Routine referrals:

Refer via Si Gateway. Referrals can be discussed by phone, if required (see phone number below).

SCI Gateway – Bonnyrigg Health Centre – Midlothian Community Respiratory Team

Urgent referrals:

All urgent referrals MUST be called through the mobile number 07779 967 349.

Please complete a Sci Gateway referral following the phone call, if possible.

Urgent referrals are prioritised but it may not always be possible to visit the patient the same day.

NOTE: There is no MCRT email inbox, do not email BonnyriggCRT as this is not our mailbox.