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About us

The Victorian Respiratory Support Service (VRSS) is a state-wide specialist program. We provide a range of services to adults with chronic respiratory failure who need to use a ventilator.

We are national leaders in home ventilation. We are actively involved in research and provide advice to other health professionals both within Victoria and nationally.

Our services

We provide the following services

• Assessment and initiation of ventilation for in-patients with complex needs (including assessment through sleep studies)
• Medical care for conditions that cause chronic respiratory failure and the management with long term home ventilation
• Specialised breathing, sleep and blood gas tests to help determine if you will benefit from long term home ventilation
• Discharge planning and training in ventilator use for patients, families and carers
• Outreach service
• An Allied Health team with experience and expertise in sleep medicine, ventilation and respiratory failure
• Ventilation weaning unit 
• Sleep laboratory 
• Respiratory laboratory 
• Tracheostomy care

Our clinics

We run the following clinics:

• Respiratory Support Clinic
• Neuromuscular Disease Clinic

We run VRSS clinics in the following locations:

• Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Centaur Wing
• Ventilator Accommodation Support Service in Thornbury
• Calvary Health Care Bethlehem Hospital 
• Bendigo Health
• Barwon Health
• Peninsula Health

A Telehealth clinic is also available for regional patients.

Related services

• Breathing & sleep disorders

  We provide a comprehensive service for people with breathing and sleep disorders, including laboratory testing, care, treatment and research.

• Victorian Spinal Cord Service

  Our Victorian Spinal Cord Service is one of the leading specialist services for acute spinal cord injury management and rehabilitation in Australia.

• Tracheostomy care

  We care for and support people living with a tracheostomy.

• Nerve & brain conditions

  We care for and treat people for diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

• Disability liaison

  We support people with disability to use hospital services and access the care and treatment they need.

• Oxygen Clinic

  We provide people with oxygen therapy at home.

Referrals

For patients

You need a referral from your GP, specialist or health care provider to access this service.

For health professionals

1. Contact the VRSS Registrar at Austin Health on 03 9496 5000

2. Download and complete the VRSS Referral Form 

3. Return the referral to us via:

Email: VRSSadmin@austin.org.au

Fax: 03 9496 3723

Contact us

Victorian Respiratory Support Service

Phone: 9496 3688

Fax: 03 9496 3723

Email: VRSSadmin@austin.org.au

Open hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 4.30pm

Location

Victorian Respiratory Support Service
Centre of Excellence in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
Austin Hospital
145 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria

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Postal address

Victorian Respiratory Support Service
Austin Hospital
PO Box 5555
Heidelberg VIC 3084
Australia