Respiratory Physiotherapy Interview Questions & Answers

← All NHS Allied Health Professions interview questions

Last updated 24 October 2026 · Created by a practising NHS doctor · Independent of the NHS

Quick answer

What questions are asked in an NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interview?

NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interviews usually mix values-based questions with scenarios specific to the role. Typical themes include on-call assessment, sputum retention, airway clearance, suction, NIV collaboration and oxygen therapy. Every interview panel writes its own questions, so practise the themes rather than memorising answers. The 8 free questions on this page cover a spread of them.

 

At a glance

• Role: Respiratory Physiotherapy (NHS Allied Health Professions)

• Questions: 40 original practice questions, each with a full model answer

• Free to read: the first 8 questions and answers on this page

• Full bank: £4.99, 12 months of access, no subscription

• Independent: not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHS

 

Read 8 questions in full, free, and see exactly what you get before you pay. Unlock the other 32 for £4.99. One payment, 12 months of access, no subscription. Secure checkout through Stripe.

These are original practice questions written to reflect how NHS interviews are run. They are not leaked or official questions, and Healthcare Interview Prep is independent of the NHS.

 

 

Free NHS interview questions and model answers

 

 

Question 1: Why have you chosen respiratory physiotherapy, and why do you want to join this team?

Motivation question  ·  Motivation

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel wants a genuine, specific reason for choosing respiratory work and evidence that you understand this service: its wards, critical care and on-call commitment. They are also checking your expectations are realistic, so you will cope with on call and stay.

 

Model answer

I first got hooked on respiratory physiotherapy during my second rotation as a Band 5, on a medical respiratory ward. There was a woman in her seventies with a chest infection on top of her COPD who was too exhausted to clear her secretions. We used positioning, the active cycle of breathing and some careful coaching, and within an hour she was talking in full sentences again. Seeing that kind of change, from something so hands on, made me realise how much difference a good respiratory assessment makes.

Since then I have built my skills deliberately. I have completed my on-call induction and supervised shifts, I have worked alongside the NIV team on the ward, and I spent time in critical care learning about early rehabilitation with ventilated patients. What I enjoy most is the problem solving. Every chest is different, and you have to put the observations, the imaging, the blood gases and what the patient is telling you together before you decide what physiotherapy can actually offer.

As for this team, I have done my homework. I know you cover a busy acute medical take, a general and a surgical ICU, and that you run a respiratory on-call rota with good senior support. I spoke to one of your current rotational physiotherapists, and she told me about the in-service training and the way seniors debrief after difficult on-call shifts. That matters to me, because I want to keep developing in a team that takes learning seriously.

I am realistic about the role. On-call work can be tiring and some decisions are hard, particularly when physiotherapy is not the right answer for the patient in front of you. But I would rather be in a team where I am stretched and supported than somewhere I stand still, and I think I can bring energy, a calm approach and a real commitment to my patients and to the people I work alongside.

 

Why this answer works

This answer opens with a specific clinical moment rather than a general wish to help people, then shows deliberate skill building, research into the service and a realistic view of on call. It ends by linking personal qualities to the team. Replace the patient story, your rotations and what you learned about the team with your own genuine details.

 

Key points to include

• A specific, believable reason for choosing respiratory work
• Evidence of skills you have already built
• Research into this team: wards, ICU, on-call rota, training
• Realistic expectations about on call and difficult decisions
• What you will bring to the team

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Saying you love the variety without giving an example
• An answer that could apply to any trust or any specialty
• Focusing only on what the job will give you
• Sounding anxious or dismissive about on call

 

NHS values and standards

Compassion; Commitment to quality of care; Improving lives. HCPC standards: Promote and protect the interests of service users.

 

Further reading

• NHS Constitution for England
• HCPC Standards of proficiency: Physiotherapists
• CSP Code of Members' Professional Values and Behaviour

 

 

Question 2: You are on call overnight and are called to the ward about a patient with suspected sputum retention. How would you approach this?

Clinical question  ·  On-call assessment

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is assessing whether you can triage a call safely, complete a structured respiratory assessment, decide whether physiotherapy is actually indicated, choose proportionate treatment and escalate appropriately. They want to see clinical reasoning, not a list of techniques.

 

Model answer

The first thing I would do is take a proper handover on the phone, ideally in SBAR format. I would want to know why they are calling, the patient's diagnosis, their observations and NEWS2 trend, oxygen requirement, any recent blood gas or chest X-ray, their resuscitation status and ceiling of care, and whether the medical team have reviewed them. That helps me judge urgency, and sometimes it tells me the call is not really a physiotherapy problem, for example if the main issue is fluid overload or sepsis.

On arrival I would do a full respiratory assessment using an ABCDE approach. I would look at their work of breathing, colour, ability to talk, their cough and how effective it is, then auscultate, look at the latest imaging and check the gas if there is one. Sputum retention usually shows itself through a weak or ineffective cough, coarse crackles, reduced air entry and sometimes worsening hypoxia. I would also check pain, fatigue, consciousness and hydration, because they all affect whether the patient can clear.

If physiotherapy is indicated, I would choose the least invasive effective option first: positioning, active cycle of breathing techniques, and assisted coughing with wound support or manual techniques where appropriate. If those do not work and the patient still cannot clear, I would consider adjuncts such as positive pressure devices or suction, checking contraindications such as an undrained pneumothorax or facial or base of skull trauma, and following local policy. I would gain consent at each step and watch the monitoring closely.

Afterwards I would document my assessment, treatment, outcome and a clear plan, and hand over to the nurse in charge and the doctor, including whether I need to come back and what would trigger another call. If the patient was deteriorating or not responding, I would escalate to the medical team or outreach rather than keep treating. And if I was unsure at any point, I would ring my senior on call for advice, because that is exactly what the support is there for.

 

Why this answer works

This answer follows the real sequence of an on-call call: telephone triage, a structured assessment, a stepwise treatment choice, then documentation and escalation. It shows the candidate questioning whether physiotherapy is the right answer, which panels value highly. Use an on-call patient you have actually seen to bring the steps to life.

 

Key points to include

• Structured SBAR handover on the phone to judge urgency
• ABCDE assessment including cough, auscultation, imaging and gases
• Ask whether the problem is really physiotherapy amenable
• Least invasive effective treatment first, adjuncts if needed
• Check contraindications and follow local policy
• Document, hand over and escalate if not improving

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Going straight to suction without assessment
• Forgetting ceiling of care and resuscitation status
• Treating alone when the patient is deteriorating
• Leaving without a clear plan for the night

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients; Compassion. HCPC standards: Manage risk.

 

Further reading

• BTS Guideline for the physiotherapy management of the adult, medical, spontaneously breathing patient
• Royal College of Physicians: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2
• HCPC Standards of proficiency: Physiotherapists

 

 

Question 3: A patient on the respiratory ward is on non-invasive ventilation for hypercapnic respiratory failure and has thick secretions. The team ask you to help. What would you do?

Scenario question  ·  NIV and airway clearance

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is checking that you understand the physiotherapist's supporting role with NIV, that you will not change settings outside your remit, and that you can clear secretions safely while keeping interruptions to ventilation short. They also want clear communication and escalation.

 

Model answer

I would start by speaking to the nurse looking after the patient and checking the NIV prescription and plan with the medical team. I want to know why NIV was started, how long the patient has been on it, the most recent blood gas and whether it is improving, and what the ceiling of treatment is. NIV is a medical treatment owned by the medical and NIV team, so my role is to support it, not to change the settings myself.

Then I would assess the patient. I would look at how they are tolerating the mask, their synchrony with the machine, leak, work of breathing, cough, hydration and level of alertness. Thick secretions on NIV are common, and I would check whether humidification is being used and whether the patient is getting enough fluids, because both can make a real difference. I would also look at the chest X-ray to rule out anything that would change my approach, such as a pneumothorax.

For treatment I would try to work with the NIV rather than around it. That means good upright positioning, coaching breathing control, and active cycle of breathing during planned short breaks when the patient is stable enough, ideally timed with mouth care or nebulisers so they are not off NIV for long. If the cough is weak, I might consider assisted coughing or other adjuncts after discussing it with the team and checking for contraindications. I would keep a close eye on saturations and work of breathing, and put the mask straight back on if they tire.

Afterwards I would document clearly, feed back to the nurse and the medical team, and agree how often physiotherapy should review. If the patient was deteriorating despite NIV and treatment, I would escalate straight away using SBAR, because that might mean a decision about critical care or a change in the overall plan. The key for me is that we are one team around the patient, and good communication with the nurses who are with them all shift is what keeps the plan safe.

 

Why this answer works

The answer shows respect for who owns the NIV plan, a focused assessment of tolerance and secretions, and practical ways to clear sputum without long breaks from ventilation. It finishes with escalation and teamwork. Swap in a real NIV patient you have treated and any local NIV practice you know about.

 

Key points to include

• NIV plan and settings belong to the medical or NIV team
• Check the indication, gases, duration and ceiling of care
• Assess mask tolerance, synchrony, leak, cough and hydration
• Consider humidification and fluids for thick secretions
• Short, planned breaks for airway clearance
• Escalate promptly if deteriorating

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Adjusting NIV pressures yourself
• Taking the patient off NIV for a long treatment
• Ignoring humidification and hydration
• Not checking the ceiling of treatment

 

NHS values and standards

Working together for patients; Commitment to quality of care; Compassion. HCPC standards: Work appropriately with others.

 

Further reading

• BTS/ICS Guideline for the ventilatory management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in adults
• BTS Guideline for the physiotherapy management of the adult, medical, spontaneously breathing patient
• NICE guideline NG115: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in over 16s

 

 

Question 4: Which of the NHS values matters most to you in respiratory physiotherapy, and why?

Values question  ·  NHS values

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel wants to see that you know the NHS values and can connect one of them to real respiratory practice with a concrete example. They are looking for reflection and sincerity rather than a recited list.

 

Model answer

It is hard to pick one, because they all link together, but for me it would be respect and dignity. Respiratory physiotherapy can be very intimate and quite uncomfortable. We ask people who are breathless and frightened to cough, we position them, and sometimes we suction them. If people do not feel respected during that, they lose trust in us, and then they are less likely to engage with the treatment that might keep them out of critical care.

I remember an older man on a respiratory ward who had been suctioned overnight by the on-call physiotherapist and was very anxious about it happening again. When I came to see him in the morning he would not let me near him. I sat down, asked him what had happened and what had been hardest for him, and he told me no one had really explained it. We agreed a signal he could use to stop me at any point, I explained what I wanted to try first, and we managed with positioning and active cycle of breathing. He did not need suction again that admission.

That taught me that respect is not just about being polite. It is about explaining properly, gaining genuine consent each time, closing curtains, keeping people covered, and treating their fear as something real rather than an obstacle to get round. It links closely to compassion, because noticing what a person is going through is where respect starts.

I also think it matters for how we treat each other on the team. On-call work is stressful and it is easy to be short with a nurse or a junior doctor at three in the morning. I try to give colleagues the same respect I give patients, because a team that respects each other communicates better, and that is safer for everyone.

 

Why this answer works

This answer picks one value, explains why it matters in this specialty, and proves it with a short, believable patient story with a clear outcome. It then extends the value to colleagues, showing maturity. Replace the example with a moment from your own practice where a value changed what you did.

 

Key points to include

• Name one value and link it clearly to respiratory work
• A short, specific example with an outcome
• Show what the value looks like in day-to-day behaviour
• Connect it to other values such as compassion
• Apply it to colleagues as well as patients

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Reciting all six values without depth
• Choosing a value with no example
• An example that does not show your own actions
• Being critical of a named colleague

 

NHS values and standards

Respect and dignity; Compassion; Everyone counts. HCPC standards: Communicate appropriately and effectively.

 

Further reading

• NHS Constitution for England
• HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and ethics
• CSP Code of Members' Professional Values and Behaviour

Found these useful? The other 32 questions cover the rest of the role, each with a full model answer. Unlock all 40 for £4.99.

 

 

Question 5: Tell us about a time you disagreed with a colleague from another profession about a patient's plan. How did you handle it?

Competency question  ·  Teamwork

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is assessing how you handle professional disagreement: whether you stay patient focused, listen, communicate respectfully, escalate appropriately and reach a safe shared plan. They want evidence you can work in a multidisciplinary team under pressure.

 

Model answer

On a surgical ward rotation I was treating a man who was two days post laparotomy. I assessed him in the morning and he had reduced air entry at both bases, a weak cough because of pain, and his oxygen requirement had crept up. I felt he needed to sit out and mobilise that day with better pain control. The nurse looking after him felt he was too drowsy and in too much pain, and she wanted to leave mobilisation until the next day.

Rather than argue at the bedside, I asked if we could talk at the nurses' station. I explained my concern about postoperative pulmonary complications and what I had found on assessment, and then I listened to her side. She told me he had been very unwell overnight and had only just had analgesia. That was useful information I did not have. We quickly agreed that pain was the real barrier for both of us.

So we escalated together to the surgical doctor to review his analgesia, and in the meantime I did positioning in upright side lying, deep breathing exercises and supported coughing in bed. I came back after lunch once his pain was better controlled, and with the nurse and a support worker we sat him out in the chair and he marched on the spot. His oxygen requirement came down over the next day and he started walking on the ward.

I learned two things. First, the nurse had context I did not, and disagreement is often just two people seeing different parts of the picture. Second, taking it away from the bedside and focusing on the patient rather than on who was right made it much easier to agree a plan. I documented our joint decision so the plan was clear for the next shift, and we worked well together for the rest of my rotation.

 

Why this answer works

A clear STAR structure: the situation and the disagreement, the respectful conversation away from the patient, joint escalation and a measurable outcome, then genuine learning. The candidate recognises the other professional's valid view. Use your own example, ideally where compromise improved the patient's care.

 

Key points to include

• Describe the disagreement fairly, including the other view
• Move the conversation somewhere appropriate
• Listen and find the shared goal
• Escalate together when needed
• Give a clear patient outcome
• Reflect on what you learned

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Portraying the colleague as wrong or difficult
• An example where you simply gave in
• No outcome for the patient
• Arguing in front of the patient

 

NHS values and standards

Working together for patients; Respect and dignity; Commitment to quality of care. HCPC standards: Work appropriately with others.

 

Further reading

• NHS Constitution for England
• HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and ethics
• CSP Code of Members' Professional Values and Behaviour

 

 

Question 6: During a treatment session, your patient suddenly becomes more breathless and their saturations drop. What would you do?

Scenario question  ·  Patient safety

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is testing whether you will stop treatment, make the patient safe, call for help, use a structured ABCDE assessment, escalate promptly with SBAR and then document and report honestly. They want calm, safe behaviour rather than heroics.

 

Model answer

The first thing is to stop what I am doing and make the patient safe. I would stop the treatment, sit them upright or return them to a position that supports their breathing, reassure them, and make sure they are on their prescribed oxygen. If they were on a ventilator or NIV, I would make sure that was reconnected and working. At the same time I would call for help from the nurse, because I should not manage a deteriorating patient alone.

Then I would assess using ABCDE. Is the airway clear, could this be a mucus plug or a blocked tube, are they still talking in sentences? I would look at their work of breathing, listen to the chest, look for any sign of a pneumothorax or bronchospasm, and check heart rate, blood pressure and consciousness. I would use the monitoring and get a full set of observations so we have a NEWS2 score. If they became unresponsive or were peri-arrest, I would call the emergency team straight away.

If the cause was something I could treat, such as a plug of sputum I could clear with a cough or suction, I would do that and reassess. But if the patient did not settle quickly, or I suspected something like a pneumothorax, a cardiac event or bronchospasm, I would escalate to the doctor immediately using SBAR. I would stay with the patient and help the team, including giving a clear account of what happened during the treatment.

Afterwards I would document exactly what I was doing, what happened, my assessment and the escalation, including times. I would think about whether anything in my treatment contributed and discuss it with my senior. Where appropriate I would complete an incident report so the team can learn from it. Being open with the patient about what happened, in the spirit of the Duty of Candour, also helps them trust us afterwards.

 

Why this answer works

The answer puts safety first, uses recognised tools in a logical order, distinguishes what physiotherapy can fix from what needs medical review, and ends with documentation, reflection and openness. Bring in a real moment when a patient deteriorated during your treatment, keeping the same sequence.

 

Key points to include

• Stop treatment and position for breathing
• Ensure prescribed oxygen and reconnect any ventilation
• Call for help early
• ABCDE assessment and full observations with NEWS2
• Escalate with SBAR; emergency call if peri-arrest
• Document, reflect and report

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Carrying on the treatment to finish the session
• Trying to manage alone
• Forgetting pneumothorax as a possible cause
• Not documenting times and actions

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Working together for patients; Compassion. HCPC standards: Manage risk.

 

Further reading

• Resuscitation Council UK: Adult advanced life support guidelines (ABCDE approach)
• Royal College of Physicians: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2
• CQC guidance on the Duty of Candour (Regulation 20)

 

 

Question 7: How do you decide whether a ventilated patient in intensive care is ready to start early mobilisation?

Clinical question  ·  Critical care rehabilitation

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel wants to see that you approach early mobilisation as a team decision, assess safety across body systems using local criteria, plan staffing and stopping criteria, and measure progress. They are checking your understanding of critical care rehabilitation at the right level.

 

Model answer

I see early mobilisation as something we decide as a team, not something physiotherapy does on its own. I would start by attending the ward round or speaking with the nurse at the bedside and the intensivist about the plan for the day. Is the patient being lightened from sedation, is there a procedure or scan planned, and what are the goals? There is no point planning to sit someone on the edge of the bed if they are going to theatre in an hour.

Then I would look at safety across the main systems, using our local criteria. Respiratory: their oxygen requirement and ventilator support, whether they are stable and how they respond to handling. Cardiovascular: their blood pressure and heart rate, any new arrhythmia and their vasoactive support. Neurological: whether they are awake enough to engage, their sedation score and delirium screen, and any spinal or other precautions. I would also check lines, drains and the airway, and make sure the tube or tracheostomy is secure.

If they are safe, I would start at the right level, which might be passive range of movement, sitting up in bed, sitting on the edge of the bed, standing with the right equipment or sitting out in a chair. I would plan who is needed, usually at least the nurse and another colleague to manage the airway and lines, and I would agree in advance what would make us stop. I record progress with a tool like the ICU Mobility Scale so the team can see change over time.

Throughout the session I watch the monitor and the patient closely, and I am prepared to stop. Afterwards I document the session and the response and feed back to the team. NICE guidance on rehabilitation after critical illness supports starting rehabilitation early, and the evidence on ICU-acquired weakness backs that up. But early has to mean safe, and that comes from good assessment and good communication.

 

Why this answer works

This answer treats mobilisation as a multidisciplinary decision, walks through a systems-based safety check without inventing numbers, and covers planning, staffing, stopping criteria and outcome measurement. Swap in a real ventilated patient you have mobilised and the local criteria your unit uses.

 

Key points to include

• Agree the daily plan with the intensivist and bedside nurse
• Systems-based safety check against local criteria
• Choose the right starting level of activity
• Plan staff, lines, airway and stopping criteria
• Measure progress, for example ICU Mobility Scale
• Document and feed back

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Quoting numeric thresholds you are unsure of
• Deciding alone without the ICU team
• Ignoring sedation, delirium or airway security
• Treating early mobilisation as all or nothing

 

NHS values and standards

Working together for patients; Improving lives; Commitment to quality of care. HCPC standards: Manage risk.

 

Further reading

• NICE clinical guideline CG83: Rehabilitation after critical illness in adults
• NICE quality standard QS158: Rehabilitation after critical illness in adults
• Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and Intensive Care Society: Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS)

 

 

Question 8: What would you do if you were concerned about a colleague's practice on call?

Values question  ·  Raising concerns

 

What the interview panel is assessing

The panel is assessing whether you understand your duty to raise concerns, can do so proportionately and fairly, know the escalation routes including Freedom to Speak Up, and will always put patient safety ahead of loyalty to a colleague.

 

Model answer

I would start by being clear about what my concern actually is, because it could range from a one-off lapse to something more serious. For example, if I came on in the morning and found a patient who had been suctioned overnight with no documented assessment or consent, or a pattern of calls that were not attended, I would want to understand the facts before deciding what to do. But if a patient was at immediate risk, I would act first and make them safe.

If it felt appropriate, I would speak to the colleague directly and privately. Often there is context I am not aware of, such as a very busy night or a decision made with the medical team that just was not written down. I would be supportive rather than accusatory, because on call is stressful and most of us are trying to do the right thing. I might suggest we talk to a senior together, or use it as learning in supervision.

If the concern was more serious, if it involved patient harm, if it happened again, or if I did not feel able to raise it directly, I would escalate to the team lead or my clinical supervisor. I would stick to facts, what I saw and when, and I would complete an incident report if there was harm or a near miss. If I felt it was not being dealt with, I know the trust has a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian I could approach.

As an HCPC registrant I have a duty to raise concerns about safety, and I would not stay quiet out of loyalty to a colleague. But I also think how you raise a concern matters. Done fairly and early, it protects patients and often protects the colleague as well, because they get support before something worse happens. I would also make sure I documented my own actions clearly.

 

Why this answer works

This answer is proportionate: it separates immediate risk from a lapse, starts with a fair private conversation, then names clear escalation routes and the professional duty behind them. It balances patient safety with fairness to colleagues. Add a real, anonymised example if you have one where you raised a concern.

 

Key points to include

• Make the patient safe first if there is immediate risk
• Establish the facts before acting
• Raise it directly and supportively where appropriate
• Escalate to lead or supervisor; incident report if needed
• Know the Freedom to Speak Up route
• Professional duty under HCPC standards

 

Common mistakes to avoid

• Saying you would ignore it to protect the team
• Going straight to formal complaint without facts
• Gossiping with other colleagues
• Not knowing any escalation route

 

NHS values and standards

Commitment to quality of care; Respect and dignity; Working together for patients. HCPC standards: Report concerns about safety.

 

Further reading

• HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and ethics
• National Guardian's Office: Freedom to Speak Up guidance
• NHS Constitution for England

 

 

Ready for the other 32?

You have seen how the model answers work. Unlock the full Respiratory Physiotherapy bank to practise every theme the panel might ask about, with the mistakes to avoid spelled out for each one.

 

 

 

About this NHS interview question bank

To prepare for a respiratory physiotherapy interview in the NHS, practise talking through real situations out loud: an overnight on-call call for sputum retention, a patient on NIV with thick secretions, a deteriorating patient during treatment, a tracheostomy emergency, early mobilisation of a ventilated patient and rehabilitation after critical illness. Panels for rotational and senior posts will also explore your clinical reasoning, when to call a senior, oxygen therapy, infection prevention, consent and capacity, the HCPC standards, supervision and how you raise concerns, so prepare honest examples that show safe escalation, teamwork and kindness under pressure.

This bank is for physiotherapists at Band 5 to Band 7 applying for respiratory and critical care posts, including rotational posts with an on-call commitment and more senior respiratory roles. Each of the 40 original practice questions includes a first-person model answer, what the panel is assessing, why the answer works, key points, common mistakes, the NHS values it shows and further reading. Themes include on-call assessment and prioritisation, sputum retention and airway clearance, suction, working alongside NIV, oxygen therapy, deterioration and escalation, early rehabilitation in intensive care, hyperinflation and tracheostomy care at principle level, end of life breathlessness, safeguarding, consent, confidentiality, supervision, CPD and quality improvement.

 

What this question bank covers

• On-call assessment
• Sputum retention
• Airway clearance
• Suction
• NIV collaboration
• Oxygen therapy
• Deterioration and escalation
• Early rehabilitation in ICU
• Hyperinflation
• Tracheostomy safety
• Tracheostomy weaning
• Postoperative care
• End of life care
• Consent and capacity
• Safeguarding
• Infection prevention
• Supervision and CPD
• Quality improvement

 

 

Respiratory Physiotherapy NHS interview: frequently asked questions

 

What questions are asked in an NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interview?

NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interviews usually mix values-based questions with scenarios specific to the role. Typical themes include on-call assessment, sputum retention, airway clearance, suction, NIV collaboration and oxygen therapy. Every interview panel writes its own questions, so practise the themes rather than memorising answers. The 8 free questions on this page cover a spread of them.

 

What band is an NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy job?

The questions on this page are pitched mainly at Band 5 to Band 7 posts. The band for any job depends on the trust and the responsibilities of the post, so always check the advert and job description. Higher bands bring more questions on leadership, supervising others and improving the service.

 

How should I prepare for an NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interview?

Read the job description and person specification closely, then prepare five or six real examples you can tell using the STAR method (situation, task, action, result). Revise your regulator's standards (such as the HCPC or GPhC), consent and capacity, safeguarding, caseload management and patient safety. Research the trust's own values and the service you would join, and practise your answers out loud before the day.

 

Which NHS values and standards should I mention in a Respiratory Physiotherapy interview?

Link your examples to the NHS values from the NHS Constitution, such as compassion, respect and dignity, and working together for patients. For this role, panels will also expect you to understand your regulator's standards (such as the HCPC or GPhC), consent and capacity, safeguarding, caseload management and patient safety. Show these through what you actually did rather than reciting lists.

 

Are these real NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interview questions?

No. They are original practice questions written to reflect how NHS Respiratory Physiotherapy interviews are typically run. Healthcare Interview Prep is independent and not affiliated with the NHS, and nobody can promise which questions you will be asked. Use the model answers to learn structure and content, then build answers from your own experience.

 

What do I get if I unlock the full Respiratory Physiotherapy question bank?

You get all 40 Respiratory Physiotherapy practice questions. Each one has what the panel is assessing, a model answer, why the answer works, key points to include, common mistakes and the NHS values it links to. It is a one-off payment of £4.99 for 12 months' access, with no subscription.

Read the full NHS Allied Health Professions interview guide →