Respiratory Care WA launches new free kids clinic amid soaring demand

A new bulk-billed respiratory clinic for children under six aims to address growing demand for asthma treatment and confusion over how to diagnose and manage respiratory illnesses.

Respiratory Care WA has launched the specialist fortnightly clinic to help more families access appropriate treatment for conditions such as early asthma, wheeze and chronic wet cough.

It is overseen by paediatric respiratory and sleep specialist Dr James Gibbons, who said the under-six cohort could be challenging to diagnose.

“It can sometimes be difficult to figure out exactly what is happening, what is asthma, what isn’t asthma, and how do we treat it,” he said.

“Many kids who are wheezing and coughing go on to develop asthma later in life, but others grow out of their symptoms. Or sometimes they don’t have asthma or wheezing but other chronic infections.”

This was the case for two-year-old Greyson Allis, who was referred to the clinic by his GP after countless visits to Perth Children’s Hospital and repeated antibiotics and steroid treatments for wheezing and bronchiolitis.

“Dr Gibbons was instantly concerned about him, he was grunting when he was breathing all the time, so we saw (the doctor) quite frequently initially,” Greyson’s mum Kirah Allis recalled.

A chest CT led to a two-week hospital admission after it emerged part of Greyson’s lungs were collapsing, and after his third course of antibiotics in three months he was fast-tracked for a bronchoscopy.

This revealed a condition called tracheobronchomalacia, which can mimic asthma and results in weak and collapsing bronchial tubes. Greyson is now on a three-month course of treatment, and he will be monitored as he grows older for signs of asthma.

“We are in for a tough couple of years but it was a relief to finally get him treated,” Mrs Allis said. “Respiratory Care WA was a lighthouse in the storm.”

After receiving a diagnosis and management plan, most patients at the clinic are then discharged back to their GP.

Respiratory Care WA acting chief executive Rael River said demand was rapidly increasing, particularly among children.

“For children, an accurate asthma diagnosis is critical. When asthma is undiagnosed or poorly controlled, children may experience ongoing cough, wheeze and chest tightness,” she said.

“This can lead to poor sleep, missing out on sport, frequent school absences, and in severe cases, a life-threatening asthma flare-up.

“While we’re grateful to be able to provide these vital services free to the community, continued growth means we’ll need greater support from decision-makers and businesses to keep meeting the needs of Western Australians.”

The not-for-profit also runs a children’s respiratory hub for six to 17 year-olds, which is supported by Telethon.