A Lung cancer nurse specialist (LCNS) has expert knowledge and experience in all aspects of lung cancer. We form an important part of the team of healthcare professionals who will provide support, information and advice during investigations, diagnosis, and treatment.

At North Bristol Trust there are three lung cancer nurses and one Mesothelioma and pleural specialist nurse.

What is our role? 

To act as your key worker To make sure your care runs smoothly To act as a point of contact throughout your cancer journey To make sure you have all the information you need to help you make decisions about your care

How do we do this? 

We provide advice, support and information leading up to and following a diagnosis of lung cancer or mesothelioma We assess your holistic needs and assist to control any symptoms you may have relating to the cancer We offer opportunity to talk about any concerns or questions you may have and those of your family We can discuss up to date information about lung cancer and mesothelioma and the current treatments available along with any research trials We liaise with other healthcare professionals involved in your care as well as your family doctor which helps provide continuity of care We offer information about financial support and benefit entitlements

GMC Number: 3256811

Year of first qualification: 1987, Kings College, London

Speciality: Neurosurgery

Clinical interests: Oncology and and spinal surgery, rheumatoid arthritis

Secretary: Vidya Rao

Telephone: 0117 414 6703

Mr George Malcom undertook his Neurosurgical training in London, Edinburgh and Bristol, and his Neurosurgical Fellowship at University of Tennessee.

LEEP

The Lung Exercise and Education Programme (known at North Bristol NHS Trust as “LEEP”) is a Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme for people who are limited by breathlessness from a chronic lung condition.

LEEP began at Frenchay Hospital in 1994. It has evolved, moved locations, and adapted to improve the programme, patient experience, and to meet the growing demand.

LEEP values and mission

Who runs LEEP?

What happens on the programme?

Why LEEP?

Who can do LEEP?

Self-referral

What happens afterwards?

Feedback from people who have recently completed LEEP

“It would only be to your advantage and you’re allowed to take the sessions at your own pace”

“I found all of it helpful and got inspiration from watching others in worse health than me, doing the course”

“The thought of physical exercise frightened me but the programme encouraged me to try and push myself”

“The staff are so helpful in explaining and giving confidence to cope with your condition”

“Anyone with chest problems can only gain from this course, apart from meeting other people affected, and building confidence and knowledge of how you can improve your condition” 

© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published March 2025. Review due March 2028. NBT003758. 

The Respiratory Physiology is situated at Gate 12, Level 1, Brunel building, Southmead Hospital. It forms part of the North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) Lung Centre. 

The function of the department is to perform breathing tests to aid in the diagnosis of lung disease. The department also participates in various research projects and is involved in the Trust's teaching program.

The Service is provided Monday-Friday for both in and outpatients.

Testing procedures include:

• Spirometry and flow volume loops
• Full lung function testing (including lung volumes and gas transfer studies)
• Allergy tests
• Bronchial reactivity tests
• Fit to Fly tests
• Respiratory muscle strength assessments and diaphragm screening
• Overnight sleep screening
• Carbon monoxide monitoring
• Blood gas assessments
• Exhaled Nitric Oxide monitoring
• Induced sputum sampling
• Exercise assessments (walk tests, CPET)
• Hyperventilation provocation testing 
• Upper airway assessments 

Contra-indications for performing lung function tests:

• Haemoptysis of unknown origin - may aggravate the underlying condition
• Pneumothorax
• Unstable angina pectoris
• Unstable cardiovascular status (eg, recent MI or PE - blood pressure changes may aggravate these conditions
• Thoracic, abdominal or cerebral aneurysms - danger of rupture due to increased thoracic pressure (surgical advice)
• Recent eye surgery - increased intra-ocular pressure
• Recent thoracic or abdominal surgical procedure
• Acute disorders affecting technique (e.g. nausea and vomiting)
• Poor comprehension

Home spirometry – measuring your lung function at home

Our acute respiratory beds are based on wards 28A and 28B. Many of our beds are occupied by patients with chronic respiratory diseases, both chronic and acute, including:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• asthma
• lung cancer
• Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
• pneumonia
• pneumothorax
• pleural effusions
• obstructive sleep apnoea

We also care for patients with general medical conditions.

Our bed base includes specific high dependency beds and are used for critically unwell patients who need close monitoring.

Specialty: Plastic Surgery

Secretary Jane Baker

Tel: 0117 414 7629

Preparation for your treatment

If you are having a general anaesthetic you must arrange for a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours. Anaesthetic drugs remain in your body for several hours and during this time you will react more slowly.

Remember for at least 24 hours after your procedure, if you had a general anaesthetic:

• You must not drive a car or any other vehicle.
• You should not cook, boil a kettle, or operate machinery.
• You should not drink alcohol or take sleeping tablets.
• You should not take any important legal or financial decisions, or sign any documents.
• You should drink plenty of fluids.
• You may eat what you like – light diet, nothing too greasy or spicy.
• You should take things gently until you feel fully recovered.

Preparing for day surgery using Local Anaesthetic

Even if you are having a local anaesthetic it is recommended to have someone take you home. You must not drive if your mobility is restricted by surgery. The day after your operation a member of the day surgery team may ring you.

Before coming into hospital
If you are unwell before your surgery (e.g. with a cold or ’flu), please ring us for advice. We recommend that you do not smoke for 2 days before your operation.

On the day of your operation, please arrive at the time indicated in your letter.

Eating and drinking

• If your operation is in the morning, do not eat or drink anything, including chewing gum, from midnight the night before. You may drink water until 5.30am.
• If your operation is in the afternoon, have a light breakfast (tea and toast) before 7.30am. You may drink water until 10.30am.

If you have diabetes and have worries about not eating, please ring for advice.

Immediately after your operation
After your operation you will be taken to the recovery area where we will treat any pain or sickness you may experience. You will then be moved to the ward area, where you can rest quietly, and have a drink and a biscuit.

As communication is an essential part of our day to day lives, and takes place in a diverse range of environments, a mounting system allows a communication aid to be accessible whenever needed. In light of this the AAC West offers a mounting assessment service.

The following are examples of where aids might be mounted.

• To a wheelchair
• On a table
• To a rolling/static floor mount for access whilst in bed or sitting in an armchair

Mounting assessments are completed as part of a Communication Aid Assessment. 

The Communication Aid Centre will also carry out a comprehensive risk assessment using the Wheelchair Risk Assessment Mounting Procedure (WRAMP) as part of the assessment.

Find out more about what happens during the assessment process.

Download patient information leaflet: [attachments]

At AAC WEST, we are dedicated to working with children and adults to find a communication aid or other AAC that suits an individual’s needs and lifestyle.

The people who use our service all have little or no speech and may also have a physical or cognitive impairment which makes accessing devices more complex. We may see people with:

• Progressive neurological diseases
• Cerebral palsy
• Head injury
• Stroke
• Learning difficulties
• Autism
• Developmental disorders
• Neurological disorders

In order to find the most appropriate aid/system assessments will look at the following areas:

• Hardware – type of device
• Software – the type of program
• Access - switch, eye-gaze etc.
• Positioning/mounting
• Vocabularies – symbol vs text and bespoke vs premade
• Low tech systems

GMC Number: 4214135

Year of first qualification: 1995, University of London

Specialty: Urology

Clinical interest: Oncology

Secretary: Morgan Kettle

Telephone: 01174145001

Having completed subspecialist training in West London at St Mary's and the Royal Marsden Hospital, Mr Edwards Rowe was appointed to North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) in October 2007.

With a specialist interest in prostate, bladder, kidney and penile cancer, he works as part of the busiest UK uro-oncolgy team.

He is the urology cancer lead, and continues to develop robotic prostate and bladder surgery.