Pulmonary rehabilitation is a programme of physical activity and self-management education for people who are living with breathlessness as a result of a chest condition.
What’s involved?
The physical activity will be graded to suit you and your breathlessness.
You will be expected to attend a class once a week for 10 weeks and carry out two further exercise sessions at home per week.
If your chest condition means you are physically unable to travel to a class, we can support you to complete a pulmonary rehabilitation programme within your home.
We will assess your health before and after the programme to ensure that you are suitable and that the course has benefited you. This assessment will take around 40 – 60 minutes.
The programme aims to:
- Increase your confidence to manage your condition and cope better with your symptoms.
- Increase your levels of activity.
- Improve your quality of life.
You can invite a partner or carer to come along. They can offer you support, and learn more about your chest condition.
Where are the sessions held?
Sessions run throughout East, North and South Ayrshire in local community and hospital venues.
Who can refer me to the course?
Any health care professional who supports you to manage your chest condition can refer you. This will include:
- your family doctor (GP)
- practice nurse
- respiratory consultant
- specialist nurse
- pharmacist
The course is popular, so your name will be added to a waiting list. You will then be invited to call the Respiratory Physiotherapy/ Pulmonary Rehabilitation team who will offer you an assessment at a clinic near to where you stay or if required arrange to assess you within your home.
After your assessment, you will be issued a start date and time with regards to starting a programme of pulmonary rehabilitation.
What happens next?
Once you have completed the course, we will:
- give you a maintenance exercise programme to continue at home
- invite you to join a follow-up maintenance exercise class that is run by leisure services
- offer you information on other groups that can offer you support within your local community
We look forward to seeing you.