Pulmonary Rehabilitation for patients with chronic lung conditions

If you have been diagnosed with a chronic lung disease and have symptoms such as breathlessness or fatigue causing difficulties with everyday life, then Pulmonary Rehabilitation is likely to benefit you. If unsure then ask your GP about this free service offered at Greenlane Clinical Centre or with Whānau Ora at centres in Glen Innes or Mt Roskill locations.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a free 8 week group programme for patients with chronic lung diseases (such as COPD) who have developed symptoms which limit their function and quality of life.

It is a comprehensive exercise and educational programme designed to improve your strength and fitness, as well as providing information to help you manage your condition alongside your healthcare team.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is now medically considered "The Treatment of Choice" when it comes to chronic obstructive lung disease (particularly COPD) and is beneficial to many other chronic lung diseases as well.

What does Pulmonary Rehabilitation include?

The programme will include the following to maximise the benefits to each patient:

1. A comprehensive and individual one to one assessment prior to beginning the programme.
2. A supervised exercise class that runs twice a week, for 8 weeks and is individually prescribed and delivered in a friendly and fun atmosphere by a specially trained team to meet your particular needs. You will begin at a safe starting point for you.
3. Education and advice on self management techniques to meet your individual needs.
4. Re-assessment on programme completion to measure your improvements.
5. 3 month follow up.   

What benefits can you expect from attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation can:

1. Reduce frequency and severity of breathlessness at rest and on exertion.
2. Improve quality of life.
3. Reduce number of hospital admissions and days spent in hospital.
4. Improve effective use of medication.
5. Improve mood and motivation.
6. Reduce dependency on others.
7. Improve your daily function by improving muscle strength and function, cardiovascular fitness and physical activity endurance.
8. Improve control over your symptoms.
9. Reduce the number of urgent and routine clinician visits.

Community Partnership

While the Greenlane Physiotherapy outpatient department delivers Pulmonary Rehabilitation at the Greenlane Clinical Centre, the ADHB has engaged with a community partner, the Whānau Ora Group, to provide Pulmonary Rehabilitation in a community setting.

Breath of Life (Hau-Ora) is a Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme provided by a team of Physiotherapists, nurses and healthcare assistants. It is a social, fun, interactive 8 week programme that includes exercise and education sessions for patients with COPD, Bronchiectasis, Interstitial Lung Disease, Asthma and Pulmonary Hypertension. Oxygen is on site for patients who need it.

Education topics covered by the course include inhaler use and technique, breathing techniques, sputum clearance, appropriate diet and mental health. The presenters include physiotherapists, pharmacists, dietitians, psychologists and doctors. The programme is run twice a week at Glen Innes and Mt Roskill.

Send patient referrals for the Glen Innes and Mt Roskill programmes to hau-ora@toa.org.nz