Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Pulmonary rehab ‘can improve quality of life’
A NEW report has found many of the 10,000 people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across Tayside are not receiving the support they need.
According to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the most effective ways to help people living with lung conditions such as COPD.
Through regular group activities, PR builds people’s confidence in their ability to get active, live as independently as they can and helps their overall health and wellbeing.
But a report by the charity found that the availability of PR courses is a “postcode lottery”. In some areas, patients can get on a course within two weeks — in others, the average wait for a place is more than six months.
There are about 10,000 people living with COPD in Tayside, half of whom would benefit from PR — but there is only space for 700.
Ian Baxter, chairman of Forfar Airways Group for people living with long-term l ung conditions, said: “There is no doubt that pulmonary rehabilitation helped to turn my life around. I learned more about my condition and how to cope with it.”
Following a visit to the group, Angus North and Mearns MSP Mairi Gougeon said: “There is a great deal of research to suggest that pulmonary rehab can make a big difference to lung disease sufferers and I saw firsthand why this is the case.
“It can make significant difference to quality of life and fitness and improve some of the symptoms, such as breathlessness, coughing and fatigue. I’m fully supportive of CHSS’s campaign to highlight the benefits of pulmonary rehab.”
In Scotland, people living with longterm lung conditions are among the biggest users of the health services, with more than 129,000 diagnosed with COPD.