Have you been diagnosed with a chronic lung disease? Do you find that normal day-to-day tasks leave you breathless? Why not join one of the new group sessions run by the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) service?

The GP referred groups, in the Christchurch, Ferndown and Kinson areas, provide exercise for patients with, predominantly, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

COPD affects an estimated three million people in the UK. COPD is a progressive disease that affects the lungs, its cause is generally linked to smoking, resulting in profound breathlessness.

If the condition gets worse for a period of time it may require treatment with antibiotics and/or steroids. Sometimes patients need to be admitted to hospital. As part of the guidelines set by the National Institute of Clinical Effectiveness (NICE), such patients should have open and swift access to PR.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s service aims to provide patients with a varied programme of cardiovascular, endurance, functional, upper and lower limb exercises to improve perception of breathlessness and increase exercise tolerance.

Alongside a combination of a warm-up, exercise circuit and a cool down, patients receive education on a whole host of topics that help them understand and manage their condition.

We invite different members of the multidisciplinary team, including the hospital dietician, pharmacist and occupational therapist, so patients can talk though their experience and ask questions. Patients can learn how to use their inhalers correctly, detect the beginnings of an infection and, if necessary, recieve support to give up smoking, all while exercising in a safe environment.

We are the only community PR service in the area run by a qualified physiotherapist, plus two PR therapy assistants experienced in acute respiratory care and personal training. We have evolved from a service that already exists at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and we have very good outcomes from patients who have attended sessions at RBH.

Patients who completed the programme are now able to walk further whilst also being able to control and manage their condition, improving overall well-being and quality of life.

If you are interested in Pulmonary Rehabilitation, you should arrange to see your GP to discuss the programme. The group meets twice a week and at Christchurch Hospital, Ferndown Leisure Centre and Pelhams Park Leisure Centre in Kinson.

At the start you will be able to meet other patients on the programme and benefit from finding out about the groups positive effects and the support it provides.