The lungs and respiratory system allow us to breathe. They bring oxygen into our bodies (called inspiration, or inhalation) and send carbon dioxide out (called expiration, or exhalation).
There’s no one who knows lungs better than Jacqueline Ross, our newly appointed Clinical Team Leader Diagnostics Services, and Tairāwhiti is lucky to have her.
Jacqui is the only person in our region who is a qualified Respiratory Physiologist trained to use specialised equipment to measure your lung function performance. Tairāwhiti now has specialised Lung Function Testing Equipment.
Patients used to have to travel out of town for their Lung Function appointments, but not any longer now we have someone with Jacqui’s skillset. Growing up in Uawa, Jacqui always wanted to be in healthcare, having studied and lived abroad before moving back home to Tairāwhiti with her whānau.
“It was an exciting time away but I knew I wanted to be based back here at home – helping our people.
“There was a need for a position like mine in Tairāwhiti due to the high demand for respiratory work in our community.
“We’d love to train others and pass on this knowledge to help grow the service locally.”
Patients needing these tests done may find it daunting so Jacqui tries to put them at ease before the testing begins.
“The appointments range from a combination of diagnostic tests from baseline, breathing tests, lung function tests, heart monitoring to ECGs.
“I try and turn it into a positive for them saying ‘Well, you’re out of the house and you get to try something different so give it your best go. You’re in the right place if you are feeling unwell.
“They range in age from five – 99 years old so I want to reassure them as much as I can and just be a friendly face.
“You come across some characters but you work with them to make it a positive and educational experience.”
During appointments, Jacqui will show patients a pre-test and show them how much they’ve improved afterwards.
“Some people are struggling to breathe out there and it’s important they understand they’re not alone. They think they just have to deal with it and get on with their life but it’s not that simple.
Struggling to breathe impacts your quality of life and with the right treatment, we can improve this quality."