thanx for your replies

yes superfizz - the routine nature of ward respiratory physio is depressing. there is certainly considerable capacity to do more but the problem arises.... who does the basics? inevitably it is the junior physios and they therefore easily become disappointed unless they get good exposure to the much more meaty stuff.... niv, pulmonary rehab, community work, itu...

the things you mentioned like np suction, ippb, cpap/bipap, us nebs etc should be standard ward stuff.

you can do some good outpatient respiratory stuff but it's huge on the education, minimal on the action. choice of location i suppose...