Thoracic Physiotherapy Surgery Network:
Thoracic specialist Physiotherapist from the UK and Ireland are members of the Thoracic Physiotherapy Network who meet quarterly for peer support and learning and sharing service improvement projects, research studies and best practice. Within the network there is a variety of Physiotherapist roles, including prehab Physiotherapists and oncology Physiotherapists.
The network is currently chaired and co-chaired by:
Zoe Barrett-Brown (zoe.barrett-brown@nhs.net) – Team Lead Physiotherapist for Thoracic Surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge
Michelle Gibb (michelle.gibb@uhl-tr.nhs.uk) – Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Thoracic Surgery at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester
If you would like to join the network or would like to contact the network please email: thoracic.physionetwork@nhs.net
Thoracic surgery encompasses surgical conditions of the chest wall, lungs, pleura, diaphragm and contents of the mediastinum (which includes the trachea, oesophagus, thymus and pericardium).
Types of operations can included: Wedge resection, segmentectomy, lobectomy, bi-lobectomy, pneumonectomy, thymectomy, lung or pleural biopsy, pleurectomy, pectus deformity correction surgery and lung volume reduction surgery.
Surgery can be performed for a variety of reasons including cancer, diagnosis, symptom management and quality of life. The way the surgery is performed also varies on the operation being performed, surgeon preference and patients’ anatomy. Incisions include multiport VATS (Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery), Uniport VATS, RATS (Robotic-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery), Subxiphoid, Thoracotomy and Sternotomy.
Over the past 2 decades Thoracic surgery has evolved, from all surgery being completed by large thoracotomy and length of stays of 14 days, to being able to remove a whole lung in a VATS incision to patients being discharged after lobectomy on post-operative Day 1.
ERAS has played such an important role in evolving Thoracic surgery and as treatment continues to advance thoracic surgery will forever continue to develop and change.
ERAS is achieved through the introduction of multiple evidence-based perioperative measures that aim to diminish postoperative organ dysfunction whilst facilitating recovery. Physiotherapy plays a
huge part after thoracic surgery and in ERAS programmes, from pre-habilitation to postoperative mobilisation, exercise, and airway clearance management.
For more information about ERAS after thoracic surgery visit: Thoracic - ERAS® Society (erassociety.org)
Links to useful articles:
Useful Resources:
February 2026 -
Physiotherapy Thoracic Surgical Network Meeting: Royal Papworth Hospital.
The Physiotherapy Thoracic Surgical Network has been collaborating for the past 4-5years, bringing Physiotherapist from across the UK and Ireland together for peer support, learning and sharing service improvement projects, research studies and best practice. We meet quarterly on-line and once a year face to face.
On Wednesday 11th February, Physiotherapists came together at Royal Papworth Hospital. A total of 19 physiotherapists attended the meeting, with 13 joining in person and a further 6 participating online. The network is fully supported by the ACPRC who financially support delegates to attend the day.
The day featured a series of teaching sessions delivered by experts from across the MDT. Dr Katharine Tweed, Consultant Radiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital, delivered a session on chest CT interpretation, focusing on key imaging findings relevant to Physiotherapists after thoracic surgery. This was followed by a session on lung ultrasound delivered by our own Physiotherapist Katherine Atkin, highlighting the growing need and usefulness of ultrasound in respiratory assessment. This session was extremely informative and shows how roles within Physiotherapy are evolving.
Further teaching included an overview of bronchoscopy from Dr Claudio Ripa, Critical Care Fellow at Royal Papworth Hospital. He discussed indications for bronchoscopies and delivery of them. The final teaching session of the morning was delivered by Mr Nathan Burnside, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon from Nottingham, who provided valuable insights into diaphragm anatomy and function, as well as the surgical considerations and impact of diaphragmatic complications.
In the afternoon, we had some breakout sessions that encouraged discussion and sharing of experiences between us all. Topics included the development of Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) roles within cardiothoracic Physiotherapy, updates on screening tools used to identify patients requiring Physiotherapy input. Prehabilitation was also explored, with delegates sharing how different services are integrating preoperative optimisation strategies into their thoracic pathways. Highlighting how important it is to get patients ready for surgery and shows why the NHS is heavily investing in prehabilitation across all pathways.
The event was generously sponsored by three medical companies: SENTEC, Breas, and POWERbreathe. SENTEC and James Philps (Physiotherapist) showcased the intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) airway clearance device and POWERbreathe presented their inspiratory muscle training (IMT) devices. Unfortuatley, Breas could not attend the day. Their support helped fund the running of the day, including refreshments, and provided the network with the opportunity to learn more about what equipment is available to use as respiratory clinicians.
Overall, the meeting was a valuable opportunity for us all working within the Thoracic surgical field. It supported us to learn from each other and the wider multidisciplinary team, and discuss the future development of services we deliver. The Physiotherapy Thoracic Surgical Network continues to provide an important platform for collaboration and professional development. Our upcoming meetings include, management of prolonged air leaks, chest wall surgery including rib fixation management and Physiotherapy involvement pre and post benign surgery.
Network Chair - Zoe Barrett-Brown – Team Lead Physiotherapist for Thoracic Surgery at Royal Papworth Hospital
Network Co-Chair - Michelle Gibb – Specialist Physiotherapist in Thoracic Surgery at Glenfield Hospital
