Margaret Barnett presents a case study which outlines the care and management of a woman who required a permanent tracheostomy following an acute hospital admission.
Margaret Barnett RGN, MSc, COPD Dip, is a COPD nurse specialist, Derriford Hospital, Devon.
Article accepted for publication: September 2005

The author would like to acknowledge the work of Sallie Waring, medical photogapher at Derriford Hospital.