COPD rehabilitation programme at Birch Hill

Birch Hill’s pioneering breathing management programme is helping patients fight back against Rochdale Borough’s leading killer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Patients suffering COPD who have joined the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme have learnt ways in which to manage their condition.

COPD is an incurable lung condition and consequently the leading cause of premature death in the borough. The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme is committed to reducing disabling symptoms with medication, exercise, education and relation techniques.

Share O’Reilly, Senior Physiotherapist for the programme, says: “the programme aims to improve patients’ health and quality of their life. These benefits include exercise capacity, physical endurance, reduced breathlessness and improved self esteem and independence.

“This new service in primary care offered by Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT is crucial in reducing lengthy  and unpleasant stays in hospital for the benefit of patients and has had a significant impact on reducing GP home visits.”

One patient, Albert Whitehead, 74 believes the 16 sessions at Birch Hill were key to enable him to successfully enjoy and hopefully one day conquer an 18 hole golf course.

He praised the service for teaching him a range of physical and breathing exercises, offering advice as well as gaining social and psychological support he gained after being referred onto the programme by his GP.

He says: “The programme was fantastic. Not only was it extremely helpful for my health, but it also helped me socially as I was able to talk openly about my condition with other people who understood what I’d been going through. The improvements in my stamina and breathing have been wonderful – I’m a new man, I’m even out enjoying play golf again!”

If you would like more information about the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme, then call 01706 754851.