Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease which affects the movement of salt and water across the cells within the body.

This can lead to thick mucous congesting the internal organs, particularly the lungs and bowel. This makes it harder to breathe and absorb food. Cystic fibrosis is most common in white people of Northern European descent. It is much less common in other ethnic groups.

It is estimated that one in every 2,500 babies born in the UK will be born with cystic fibrosis and there are more than 10,000 people living with the condition in this country.

At Frimley Park Hospital, we host a specialist, tertiary, adult cystic fibrosis unit, recognised by the CF Trust. We currently look after approximately 130 patients, mainly from the Greater London, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire areas.

Our CF unit comprises a multidisciplinary team made up of consultant physicians, clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists and psychologists. We have a dedicated clinical unit that houses both bespoke outpatient rooms and five en-suite inpatient rooms. We contribute annually to the CF Trust’s clinical database.

We care for patients who may be managing a range of symptoms and problems encountered in cystic fibrosis, and our aim is to make their condition easier to live with. We have a number of collaborative links with the gastroenterology, diabetes, obstetric, surgery, vascular and radiology departments. Our external partners include the transplant team at Harefield Hospital, the gastroenterology and radiology departments at the Hammersmith Hospital and the clinical geneticists at St George’s Hospital.