Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Hubs
What are Acute Respiratory Infection Hubs?
ARI Hubs are designed to relieve pressure on other parts of the local healthcare system, including Urgent Treatment Centres, A&E, and ambulance services. The service is intended to help patients (both children and adults) with suspected respiratory infections and showing symptoms of such, to access a face-to-face appointment, usually on the same day.
Who can access the ARI Hubs?
These hubs are available to adults and children with acute respiratory symptoms most likely due to infection. This can include exacerbation of existing underlying respiratory disease.
- Acute/New respiratory symptoms of 10 days or less
- Cough with or without sputum production
- Shortness of breath
- Difficultly breathing
- Wheeze
- Signs of infection
- Temperature / fever / chills
- Muscle aches
- Lethargy / fatigue
- Feeling generally unwell
Please contact your surgery to make the booking, where they will ask you:
- What are the symptoms?
- When did they start?
- Is this new or ongoing?
- Are you getting worse, getting better, or stable?
- Have you tested for COVID-19?
- They will check for red flag symptoms (see below)
Who is not suitable?
- Patients whose symptoms have been ongoing for than 10 days
- Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19
- Patients presenting with red flags should be advised to either present at A&E or call an ambulance:
- New onset confusion
- Persistently high temperature
- Drowsiness / Unconsciousness
- Severe breathing difficulty – unable to speak properly
- Blue discoloration to lips
