Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service
What is pulmonary rehabilitation?
Its a training programme for people with chronic lung conditions. this includes a supervised programme including disease education, exercise and social intervention.
Rehabilitation programmes for patients with chronic lung disease are well established and have been increasingly incorporated into recommended management plans for such patients.
Key elements of rehabilitation include the use of a multidisciplinary approach to care, focus on the individual patient and attention to emotional and social aspects, in addition to physical aspects of health.
The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) NICE Guidelines (2004) recommend that Pulmonary Rehabilitation should be made available to all appropriate patients with COPD and should be held in buildings that are easy for patients to get to and have good access. The programme should include multi-component, multi–disciplinary interventions which are tailored to individual patient need.
The goals of pulmonary rehabilitation are to reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and increase participation in everyday activities for patients suffering from COPD.
The exercise programme is supervised by a trained senior respiratory physiotherapist and is tailored to an individuals need. Education topics covered within the programme include breathing control, chest clearance, disease process, inhaler and medication management, dietary advice, coping with activities of daily living, relaxation and introduction to breathe easy.
Some of the proven, evidence based benefits of participating in the programme are:
- Improvement in exercise capacity
- Reduction in perceived intensity of breathlessness
- Reduction in number of hospitalisations & days in hospital
- Reduction in anxiety and depression associated with COPD and corresponding improvement in morale
- Improvement in overall survival
- Social support found to be very useful
- A better understanding of COPD
- Improved quality of life
Who is eligible to access our service?
This service is for adults only and individuals must have a diagnosis of chronic lung disease.
- Individuals who feel they are functionally disabled by their breathing
- Individual must wish to take an active part in rehabilitation classes
- Individuals must be on appropriate medication for the severity of their disease
How to access our service
Referrals can be made to the service via registered Bury GPs or as part as discharge planning from hospital.
How to contact us
COPD Service Development Co-ordinator
T: 0161 762 3851
Higher Clerical Officer, Fairfield General Hospital
T: 0161 778 2028
Opening hours
The community based Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service runs three programmes per year:
- February to April
- May to July
- October to November
The programmes have an eight week duration. Individuals are required to attend twice per week for a period of 2-3 hours.
Available venues: Castle Leisure Centre, Bury, Total Fitness Gym, Whitefield and the Physiotherapy Gym at Fairfield General Hospital.
Tuesdays and Thursdays