Respiratory Medicine
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Respiratory at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Respiratory Unit at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital delivers comprehensive care for children with complex respiratory conditions, such as severe asthma, chronic suppurative lung disease, and immunodeficiency, sleep disorders. RMCH is recognised as a regional centre of excellence for neuromuscular disease, neurology and neurosurgery, spinal surgery, metabolic medicine and oncology, with the respiratory team contributing across these specialties. The team also regularly review and contribute to the care of children in our large critical care unit which includes a 15-bed high dependency unit and 18-bed intensive care unit. They work closely with our colleagues in other specialities including paediatric thoracic surgery, critical care, ENT, immunology, cardiology and many others. They accept referrals from paediatricians across the North West for investigation and management of respiratory conditions. Respiratory at RMCH also provide a bronchoscopy service, including a specialised diagnostic service for some cases of TB with transbronchial biopsy, being one of the few paediatric centres in the UK to do so.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
Recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Respiratory Medicine
The RMCH Respiratory Team were shortlisted in the Acute Service Redesign Initiative category at the Health Service Journal Awards 2020, recognising their development in the first regional 'virtual' paediatric tuberculosis clinic in the UK.
Our team is consistently involved in a wide range of research and publications. Explore a selection of our teams' academic contributions:
Lung clearance index in patients with cystic fibrosis: Can we avoid repeating the test three times?
Gastrostomies in children requiring long-term ventilation
Childhood lung function is associated with adolescent-onset and persistent asthma
Our sub-specialities
- Long term ventilation
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Sleep service
- Tuberculosis
- Critical Care Integration
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Meet our expert supervisors
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Dr
Louise Turnbull
Clinical Director for Specialist Medicine in RMCH. Louise has been working as a paediatric respiratory consultant at RMCH since September 2016 and has special interests in severe asthma, paediatric tuberculosis, bronchoscopy and medical education. She is the North-West Paediatric Tuberculosis lead and area officer for RCPCH North-West. She has a passion for education and training and was the previous college tutor and then lead for supported return to training.
Dr
Anna Shawcross
Clinical Lead for Paediatric Respiratory Medicine. Anna has been a consultant in RMCH since 2019 and is an active contributor to research and quality improvement in the field of CF, PCD, and non-CF bronchiectasis. She currently organises and co-chairs the Royal Society of Medicine cystic fibrosis symposium, and is a member of the UK CFMA executive committee. Anna has special interests in cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Dr
Anirban Maitra
Cystic Fibrosis Director. Anirban joined RMCH in 2015 as a consultant in Paediatric respiratory medicine. He has been involved in the tertiary management of children with complex respiratory problems for the past 22 years. He worked as a Research Fellow at Bristol Children’s Hospital, completed the National Grid Training in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine at Sheffield Children’s Hospital in 2009, and has been practising as a Consultant since that time. Dr Maitra is actively involved in educating medical students, junior doctors, and healthcare professionals. He has served as the Associate Dean for Student Experience at the University of Manchester’s Medical School.
Dr
Antonia McBride
Lead for Sleep and Long Term Ventilation. Antonia has been a consultant in paediatric respiratory at RMCH since 2022, after completing her training here. She has a particular interest in sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders. She looks after children with a wide range of respiratory disorders, with a focus on children with respiratory complications of neurodisability. Her main non-clinical interest is in healthcare ethics, and she served on the RCPCH Ethics and Law Advisory Group between 2015 and 2022.
Dr
Stuart Wilkinson
Stuart is passionate about supporting ventilator dependent children and leads the regional neonatal/respiratory forum, and has special interests in long term ventilation, asthma, sleep disordered breathing, neuromuscular respiratory compromise, congenital lung diseases and tertiary respiratory paediatric medicine. Chair and Lead National LTV Advisory Group across the UK (2021), Chair and Lead Regional Neonatal CLD Forum and LTV network regional clinical lead.
Professor
Clare Murray
Asthma Lead. Clare gained a HEFE clinical fellowship in 2007, became a senior lecturer with the University of Manchester in 2012 and was promoted to professor of paediatric respiratory medicine in 2021. he has been severe asthma advisor for the GM Strategic Clinical Network CYP asthma group, set up the regional severe asthma transition service and has recently set up a regional virtual severe asthma MDT. She is principal investigator on a number of academic and industry led studies at RMCH. She has over 150 peer reviewed publications.
Our signature programmes
Observerships
Respiratory
A Paediatric Respiratory Observership at RMCH offers international clinicians and allied health professionals structured, short‑term exposure to:
- Inpatient care: Observation of ward rounds, acute and chronic respiratory case management, and consults from critical care.
- Outpatient clinics: Attendance at specialist clinics including cystic fibrosis, TB, sleep medicine, and immunology.
- Procedures & diagnostics: Shadowing bronchoscopy lists, advanced lung function testing, and sleep studies.
- Multidisciplinary practice: Participation in MDT meetings, teaching sessions, and family‑integrated care pathways.
- Professional development: Insight into UK governance, patient safety, and subspecialty respiratory models to enhance career progression.
Objectives
- Provide structured, short‑term exposure to UK paediatric respiratory practice.
- Offer insight into subspecialty pathways including cystic fibrosis, long‑term ventilation, sleep medicine, tuberculosis, and advanced diagnostics.
- Build awareness of UK governance, compliance, and patient safety standards.
- Support preparation for PLAB, CESR, or international career progression.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the observership, participants will be able to:
- Describe the principles of paediatric respiratory care across acute and chronic conditions.
- Recognise subspecialty pathways including cystic fibrosis, long‑term ventilation, sleep medicine, and tuberculosis.
- Explain the role of multidisciplinary teamwork and family‑integrated care in improving outcomes.
- Compare UK respiratory practice with their home country, highlighting transferable approaches.
- Articulate how observership experience supports PLAB preparation or career progression.
- Outline the structure of RMCH’s respiratory service and its integration with critical care.
- Understand the contribution of research and innovation to respiratory care delivery.
- Appreciate the role of collaboration with other subspecialties (e.g., neurology, immunology, oncology).
Eligibility
- Must be a postgraduate medical doctor or healthcare professional (e.g. allied health).
- Must hold a valid qualification and professional registration in their home country.
Fellowships
Respiratory
A Paediatric Respiratory Fellowship at RMCH offers senior trainees and post‑CCT clinicians a unique opportunity to gain insight into the following:
- Inpatient experience: Day‑to‑day management of acute and chronic respiratory disease, leading ward rounds, and reviewing consults from critical care.
- Outpatient exposure: Independent registrar clinics, plus attendance at specialist clinics.
- Procedural training: Dedicated theatre time for bronchoscopy (3 lists/month) and weekly emergency bronchoscopies.
- Physiology training: Access to advanced lung function testing (spirometry, plethysmography, nitric oxide, exercise testing).
- Research involvement: Fellows are supported in audits, retrospective reviews, and quality improvement projects, with opportunities to present at national and international conferences.
Objectives
- Deliver supernumerary subspecialty training in bronchoscopy, advanced lung function testing, sleep medicine, and complex ventilation.
- Ensure equitable access to consultant supervision, structured teaching, and multidisciplinary practice.
- Provide opportunities to contribute to audits, research, and quality improvement projects.
- Equip fellows with internationally recognised credentials from a world‑renowned NHS trust and university city.
- Support progression to consultant or leadership roles in their home countries.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the fellowship, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced subspecialty skills in bronchoscopy, lung function testing, sleep medicine, and complex ventilation.
- Apply evidence‑based practice in paediatric respiratory care under consultant supervision.
- Participate in or critically appraise respiratory research activity, understanding governance and ethical frameworks.
- Contribute to audits, quality improvement projects, or academic outputs within the respiratory unit.
- Develop leadership skills for future consultant or academic roles in their home country.
- Act as ambassadors for Manchester’s respiratory expertise upon return to their home institutions.
Eligibility
- Primary medical degree acceptable to the UK General Medical Council (GMC).
- Postgraduate qualification in chosen speciality (e.g. Membership/Fellowship of a Royal College, or equivalent overseas).
- Speciality training: At least 4 years of speciality training completed before entry.
- Clinical experience: Must have been in full‑time clinical work for at least 3 of the last 5 years, and continuously in the year prior to fellowship start.
- Detailed CV and logbook of procedures to demonstrate speciality experience.