Approximately 5000 surgical tracheostomies and 15,000 percutaneous tracheostomies are performed each year in England (Wilkinson et al. [286]). Despite the increasing numbers of altered airways being performed, several reports recognize key themes of poor tracheostomy care and a lack of care pathways, resulting in harm to patients, prolonged hospital stay and poor survival to hospital discharge (Bonvento et al. [28], Mortimer and Kubba [168], Wilkinson et al. [286]). While nurses carry out a significant amount of care for patients with an altered airway, a multidisciplinary team approach is essential to co‐ordinate and plan safe and effective care before and after stoma formation (Bonvento et al. [28], Wilkinson et al. [286]).

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) play a pivotal role in the assessment and management of patients’ impaired swallowing and speech, especially in patients who have undergone a total laryngectomy (Bonvento et al. [28]). Specialized physiotherapists are skilled in mobilization, rehabilitation, humidification techniques and the general care of tracheostomies. Patients may have difficulty with an altered body image and need psychological support, not only from the professionals closely involved in their care but also potentially from a formal psychological support team. Other key support teams include ENT (ear, nose and throat) and head and neck clinical nurse specialists, rehabilitation teams, dieticians, critical care outreach teams, anaesthetists (in the event of an airway emergency), and discharge co‐ordinators and community teams (for patients with altered airways who are going home).