Choosing the right respiratory information system (RIS) for an NHS Trust or teaching hospital is one of the most consequential decisions a lab manager can make. The right platform reduces clinical risk, eliminates double data entry, and keeps pace with evolving ATS/ERS standards. The wrong one creates vendor lock-in, IT headaches, and workflows that frustrate the scientists who use them daily. This article ranks five leading respiratory information systems based on the criteria that matter most to lab managers in 2026: clinical functionality, integration capability, compliance support, and ease of use.

TL;DR

• NHS respiratory labs face mounting pressure to digitise, integrate, and demonstrate compliance with international standards [NHS England » Respiratory disease]

• The best respiratory information systems are vendor-neutral, cloud-capable, and built around clinical workflows rather than commercial device ecosystems

• Integration with PAS, EMR, and electronic ordering systems is now a baseline expectation, not a premium feature

• Accreditation support (ISO 15189, TSANZ/NATA) is increasingly a differentiator among platforms

• Rezibase is the only purpose-built respiratory and sleep reporting platform founded by respiratory scientists, now trusted by NHS trusts and teaching hospitals internationally

About the Author: This article is produced by the Rezibase team, specialists in cloud-based respiratory and sleep reporting solutions with 37 years of combined experience serving public hospitals, teaching institutions, and private clinics across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

Why Do NHS Trusts Struggle to Find the Right Respiratory Information System?

Respiratory and sleep labs sit in an awkward gap within NHS digital infrastructure. They generate complex, device-specific data from spirometers, body plethysmographs, polysomnography systems, and CPAP devices, yet most hospital-wide electronic patient record (EPR) systems are not built to handle this granularity [Inpatient prescribing systems used in NHS Acute Trusts across England: a managerial perspective - PMC].

The result is a fragmented landscape where labs frequently rely on:

• Paper-based reporting workflows

• Spreadsheets stitched together with manual data entry

• Device-native software that cannot talk to the hospital PAS or EMR

• Legacy systems that require on-site servers and dedicated IT support

NHS trusts are under sustained performance pressure [Performance Tracker 2025: Hospitals], and respiratory disease remains one of the most clinically significant areas of focus for the health service [NHS England » Respiratory disease]. This makes the case for a purpose-built respiratory information system stronger than ever. Below is a ranked overview of five platforms lab managers are evaluating in 2026.

What Are the Top 5 Respiratory Information Systems for NHS Labs in 2026?

1. Rezibase

Best for: NHS trusts and teaching hospitals requiring an end-to-end, vendor-neutral respiratory and sleep platform

Rezibase is the most comprehensive purpose-built option currently available to NHS labs. Founded by respiratory scientists Peter Rochford and the late Jeff Pretto, and now backed by healthcare technology company Cardiobase, the platform was designed to solve real frustrations experienced inside clinical physiology labs, not built around a device manufacturer's commercial interests.

Key strengths:

• Magic Import: Automatically ingests device reports from any manufacturer, extracting discrete data including flow-volume loops, eliminating double entry

• AI-assisted reporting: Structured report writing guided by ATS guidelines, with medical dictation support

• Normal Values Library: Pre-configured, regularly updated, and compliant with current international reference standards

• Full accreditation module: Covers ISO 15189, TSANZ/NATA standards, including document management, training records, non-conformance tracking, audit trails, and Westgard-method quality control

• Admin suite: Referrals, electronic ordering, waitlist management, eForms, bookings, rostering, and billing all in one platform

• Deep integrations: PAS, EMR, DICOM Modality Worklists, hospital finance systems, and electronic orders systems

• Cloud-based SaaS: No local installation, no server management, accessible from anywhere

• Enterprise deployment: Can also be deployed on-premises for trusts with specific infrastructure requirements

Rezibase covers both respiratory and sleep, which is rare among specialist platforms. It is already trusted by NHS sites in the UK alongside NSW Health sites in Australia, and has operated in this specialist space for 37 years.

Pricing: Transparent, all-inclusive monthly pricing. No lock-in contracts. 30-day free trial available.

2. Clinisys (formerly Sunquest/Winpath)

Best for: Large trusts with centralised laboratory information management needs

Clinisys is a broad laboratory information system (LIS) used across multiple clinical departments in NHS trusts. Its strength is in pathology and biochemistry workflows, and it offers a recognised integration framework within larger hospital digital ecosystems.

For respiratory-specific use, its generic LIS architecture means it lacks the clinical depth respiratory scientists need day-to-day. Spirometry interpretation, normal values management, and sleep reporting are typically not native capabilities.

3. Philips Wellcentive / EncoreAnywhere

Best for: Labs with a strong Philips device install base requiring native CPAP data management

Philips offers device-native reporting tools that work seamlessly within its own equipment ecosystem. For sleep labs running predominantly Philips CPAP and PAP therapy devices, this can reduce friction in data handling.

The limitation is manufacturer dependency. Labs using mixed device environments will find these platforms less flexible, and switching device suppliers in future becomes significantly more complicated.

4. Natus (Neuroworks / SleepWorks)

Best for: Neurophysiology and sleep labs needing combined neuro/sleep reporting

Natus platforms are established in neurophysiology departments and offer sleep study modules as an extension of that workflow. For trusts where respiratory sleep studies are managed alongside neurophysiology, this combined approach has appeal.

For dedicated respiratory physiology labs, however, Natus does not offer the spirometry, lung function, or cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) functionality that clinical physiologists require.

How Should NHS Lab Managers Evaluate a Respiratory Information System?

Use the following criteria as a structured checklist:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a respiratory information system?
A respiratory information system (RIS) is a software platform designed to manage the clinical workflow of a respiratory physiology lab, including patient records, test data import, report generation, normal values, and integration with hospital systems.

Is Rezibase available in the UK?
Yes. Rezibase is already deployed within NHS trusts in the UK, alongside sites in Australia and New Zealand.

How does Rezibase handle data from different device manufacturers?
Rezibase's Magic Import function ingests reports from any device manufacturer, automatically extracting discrete data. This makes it fully vendor-neutral.

Does Rezibase support ISO 15189 accreditation?
Yes. Rezibase includes a dedicated accreditation module covering document management, training records, non-conformance tracking, action plans, audits, and Westgard-method quality control.

Can Rezibase integrate with our hospital's EPR or PAS?
Yes. Rezibase integrates with PAS, EMR, DICOM Modality Worklists, hospital finance systems, and electronic orders systems.

Is there a free trial available?
Yes. Rezibase offers a 30-day free trial with no lock-in contract required.

About Rezibase

Rezibase is a cloud-based respiratory and sleep reporting platform built by respiratory scientists, for respiratory scientists. With 37 years of specialist experience and deployments across NHS trusts in the UK and public hospitals in Australia and New Zealand, Rezibase delivers a vendor-neutral, fully integrated solution that covers the complete respiratory and sleep lab workflow. Backed by Cardiobase and guided by a mission to improve patient care through technology, Rezibase combines clinical depth, accreditation support, and enterprise-grade integration in a single, transparent, no-lock-in platform.

Ready to see how Rezibase compares in your lab environment? Explore the platform and start your 30-day free trial at rezibase.com.