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Dr Francois Abel is currently a Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Specialist at John Hunter Hospital for Children in Newcastle. He moved from the UK three years ago where he worked for 12 years in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in central London, the largest paediatric hospital in the UK. There he was the medical lead for the Paediatric Respiratory Sleep and Non-Invasive Ventilation Service but also worked across the range of paediatric sleep and respiratory medicine services. He was also the co-chair of the British Paediatric Sleep Society for five years.

Dr Abel has developed a wealth of experience complex paediatric respiratory and sleep disorders including rare lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, complex asthma, PCD, bronchiectasis and chronic lung disease of prematurity, pulmonary hypertension and respiratory pathology as part of multisystemic disorders including neuromuscular disorders, metabolic disorders and spinal disorders.

He has worked on several research projects and has multiple publications in peer review journals focusing particularly on respiratory aspects of complex diseases with particular focus on complex OSA, ventilation support and neuromuscular disorders.

Since moving back to Australia, he has been involved in the development of clinical pathways for management of OSA and MDT collaboration with ENT specialists and continues to develop a keen interest in advancing knowledge of paediatric respiratory and sleep disorders.

Dr Abel has presented at national and international meetings including the European Respiratory Society, the International Paediatric Sleep Association, the American Thoracic Society and more recently at the Australian Sleep Society.

His ethos of practice is to deliver professional expert care focused on the patient’s needs while remaining friendly, approachable and accessible.