A new respiratory hub has opened in Walsall to provide specialised care for vulnerable and at-risk children with breathing conditions.

The hub, developed by the Walsall Together Partnership, is a GP-led service offering same-day, face-to-face appointments, diagnostics and treatment for children up to and including the age of 12.

It is for children with chronic respiratory issues such as asthma and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Patients must be referred by their GP, and follow-up care in the community is also available if needed.

Open Monday to Friday, from 12.30pm to 6,30pm, the hub aims to reduce hospital admissions over the winter period.

Dr Anand Rischie, Associate Medical Director for Walsall Together, said: “Over the winter we tend to see a rise in respiratory infections, and the hub will be key to helping us support the most vulnerable and at-risk children across Walsall experiencing chronic respiratory conditions.

“It is just one of many initiatives the partnership is working on to collectively improve respiratory care for our younger patients.

“We can help them manage their condition with the right treatment and ongoing support, and prevent them from becoming ill in the first place.”

Feedback so far has been positive, with one patient saying: “The Doctor was amazing and was so thorough with my child.

“She spoke to him – not just me – and made a normally scared two year old comfortable and at ease with the whole examination.”

The hub is also investing in several preventative measures to identify early signs of asthma, expanding on an existing programme from housing provider whg: ACEing Asthma.

This supports families from disadvantaged communities to manage their condition and aims to improve their living conditions to prevent crises.

Connie Jennings, Director of Stronger Communities for whg, said: “whg is delighted to deliver the ACEIng Asthma programme as part of the support offered in the ARI hub.

“ACEing Asthma is a partnership health and housing programme, with social prescribers supporting families to access the services they need to manage their child’s asthma, keeping them out of hospital and in school, healthy and happy.”

The partnership will also collaborate with existing services such as family hubs and the voluntary, faith, community, and social enterprise sectors to provide preventative care.

There will also be an increase in diagnostic testing in primary care to diagnose children with asthma earlier, and implement effective care plans to help manage their condition.