The North East Assisted Ventilation Service (NEAVS)
The North East Assisted Ventilation Service (NEAVS) is a specialist regional service for people who need long-term ventilatory support.
The service helps people who have a problem with their breathing muscles or lungs and ventilatory support may help.
What does the service do?
We provide specialist services as far north as the Scottish Borders, as far south as North Yorkshire and from the east to the west coast of England. ​
We provide support for patients who have long-term breathing problems because of lung or neuro-muscular problems.
Our service will assess your condition and decide if a night time (or even a daytime) ventilator machine can help.
The majority of our patients require ventilatory assistance at night and most receive this by a face mask.
A smaller number of patients have a long-term tracheostomy for the purpose of ventilatory support.
Some patients (both mask and tracheostomy) are completely ventilator-dependent. ​
As well as management of patients in the community, our service provides an inpatient service to the Trust, regular outpatient reviews and a region wide outreach and home visit service.
Who do we care for in our service?
We see people who have a neuromuscular problems including:
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
- Myotonic Dystrophy
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Motor Neuron Disease
In addition, we also see people who have:
- Central Sleep Apnoea
- Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
- Chest wall deformities
You might also need home ventilation if you have ventilatory failure such as in long term lung conditions, for example;
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (or emphysema and chronic bronchitis)
- Bronchiectasis
- Cystic Fibrosis
We also look after patients with tracheostomies who have breathing problems and some patients who need assistance with respiratory secretions and cough.
You might be referred to us by other specialists who have undertaken some breathing tests and/or blood gas tests.
How can I be referred into the service?
You can be referred into the service by another speciality or your GP.
What happen at my clinic appointment?
You will be seen by a consultant or team members including other healthcare professionals such as nurse and physiotherapists. Medical specialists in training may sit in on consultations, with patient consent.
We may conduct some tests as part of your assessment, such as breathing tests, chest x-ray or blood tests. You may also be asked to have an overnight test to monitor your breathing whilst you are asleep, and this will be given to you so you can do this at home.
You may be asked if you would like to take part in clinical research, but this is optional and patient care will not be affected if patients prefer not to be involved
Where will my appointment be held?
Should you have any queries regarding your appointment then please call the North East Assisted Ventilation Service administration team on 0191 282 3153 and press option 1
We have clinics at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
We run also clinics at:
- James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough
- Blyth Community Hospital in Northumberland
- Penrith Community Hospital.
James Cook University Hospital Outpatient Clinic
Address
The Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Cord Injuries Centre
James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road
Middlesbrough
TS4 3BW.
How to get to the clinic
Please follow signs for the North Entrance (near the Holistic centre), then report to The Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Cord Injuries Centre reception.
If you happen to arrive at the South Entrance of the Hospital, then please ask reception for directions.
If you need help or directions contact James Cook Switchboard on 01642 850 850 or visit their website for further information.
Blyth Community Hospital Outpatient Clinic
Address
Blyth Community Hospital
Thoroton Street
Blyth
NE24 1DX
How to get to the clinic
Once on Thoroton Street, go past the health centre on your right to the main hospital
which is the next building along. Please report to the outpatient department reception
which is on the right as you enter the building.
If you need further help with directions, please ring Blyth outpatient department
reception directly on 01670 396 416 or visit their website for further information
Penrith Community Hospital Outpatient Clinic
How to get to the clinic
Address
Penrith Community Hospital
Bridge Lane
Penrith
CA11 8HX.
Once you reach Kemplay Bank roundabout, take the exit for Bridge Lane and Penrith
Community Hospital is on the right. Please use entrance next to the Urgent Treatment Centre entrance.
If you need further help with directions, please ring Penrith Community Hospital
switchboard on 01768 245 555 or visit their website for further information.
Who does the team work with to link in patient care?
We work collaboratively within the Trust and the region and have strong links with the Clinical Genetics team based at the Centre for Life.
We host a transition clinic with the specialist paediatric home ventilation team for young adults whose care is being taken over by adult services.
Staff you are likely to meet
The team consists of:
- Medical consultants
- A nurse consultant
- Senior specialist nurses
- Senior physiotherapists
- Healthcare assistants
- Secretaries
We have received the Team of the Year Personal Touch award within the Trust, were specifically mentioned by the CQC as an outstanding service and have been the subject of a BBC documentary about supporting the independence of patients on ventilatory support in the community.​
Patient stories
Contact us
​Any patient or carer who requires support from the home ventilation team should contact:
Telephone: 0191 282 3153
Monday to Friday 08:30 – 18:00
