Hertfordshire Respiratory Lead, Maria Buxton shares expertise in Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Royal College of Physicians webinar
Maria Buxton, a leading voice in pulmonary rehabilitation in Hertfordshire and Clinical Lead for the Royal College of Physicians' Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services Accreditation Scheme (PRSAS), recently delivered a compelling webinar on workforce capacity and demand in Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR). Hosted as part of the Royal College of Physicians' (RCP) Community of Practice series, the session attracted over 90 healthcare professionals from across the country.
A series of expert-led webinars fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing. Notably, Demand and Capacity (D&C) plays a key role in PRSAS accreditation, requiring services to submit evidence for 40 accreditation standards, including a workforce review as a significant requirement.
Workforce planning in PR often overlooks the Demand & Capacity (D&C) aspect. Many NHS PR teams struggle to secure adequate staffing support, a challenge exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further delayed the return to face-to-face services. In response, the D&C initiative was developed through a collaboration between the National Respiratory Audit Programme (NRAP), NHS England, and PRSAS, creating a platform for services to share best practices and learn from one another.
The webinar aimed to demystify the D&C model, making it more practical and accessible for PR teams. Maria provided clear guidance on using D&C data to strengthen staffing requests and incorporate it effectively into reports for key decision-makers, such as Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and organisation's leadership teams.
Her presentation drew from the CLCH Respiratory Team’s extensive workforce planning experience, which informed their new integrated respiratory model. Unlike complex national frameworks, CLCH’s approach is service-focused and practical, equipping teams with tools to apply D&C for staffing plans, business cases, and referral trend analysis—ultimately helping to manage patient wait times more effectively.
Attendees received a comprehensive overview of the model and practical strategies for integrating it into daily practice to optimise service delivery, improve patient outcomes, and enhance support for individuals with respiratory conditions.
The webinar received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants highlighting its relevance and real-world applications. One attendee shared: This was an incredibly insightful session that provided us with solutions to a complex issue. We look forward to applying the D&C model to our own services."
Maria also advocated for developing diverse PR delivery models and assessment styles to enhance service flexibility across NHS Trusts and PR providers. Her ‘pick-and-mix’ D&C approach, offering a variety of PR delivery models, was met with enthusiasm—emphasising the need for adaptable and innovative solutions in PR. Additionally, NRAP expressed interest in showcasing this as a CLCH product, recognising it as a potential model for successful D&C implementation.
Driving Excellence in Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Maria Buxton’s leadership in the PR Accreditation Programme continues to position the RCP at the forefront of high-quality pulmonary rehabilitation across the UK. Through impactful webinars like this, healthcare professionals are equipped with the tools needed to meet the growing demand for PR services.
Access the full webinar recording here:
https://www.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/2012451/uiconf_id/54675612/entry_id/1_37lyxjo0/embed/iframe
For more information on the PR Accreditation Programme or to access future webinars, visit the Royal College of Physicians website.
